I’ve been thinking about the alone place. How well do you live there?

You can often measure the quality of a life by what happens when a person is alone. A few observations about being alone:

We are all, in one sense, alone on this planet. There is no one else like you. No one else walks your exact path. You may be married, surrounded by family, busy with responsibilities—and still, there will be hours when you will be alone with your own soul.

The question is: What happens to you when you enter the alone place?

For many, the alone place feels overwhelming. Some men look for distraction. Some run from it. Some medicate it—with noise, screens, alcohol, work, fantasy, gambling, or endless escaping.

Why?

Because in the alone place, you will usually experience one of two feelings: Either you feel alive, free, and creative—like a boy again, curious, energized, ready to explore your Father’s creation. Or you feel urgency, fear, and restlessness—and you look for escape because being with yourself feels unbearable.

Think about your own evenings.

After your days work is done, what do you do? Do you come alive with thought, reflection, gratitude, and ideas? Or do you numb out, avoid, and run from what you might feel if you slowed down?

Close:

The alone place can become a place of renewal or a place to avoid and escape.

Prayer:

Father, I want to feel alive. I want to be free. I make you Lord of my alone place. Teach me to rest in Your presence instead of running from myself. Meet me in the quiet, and make it a place of life. Amen.

Scripture:

“How content you become when you weep with complete brokenness, for you will laugh with unrestrained joy”

Like 6:21 b    Passion