Called to Solitude

Photo by Simon Wilkes on Unsplash

About twice a year, my body tells me I’m not doing a good enough job of slowing down and living deeper. I’ve sensed such a season in recent days. But as someone who works for himself, I don’t get a paid vacation. Even so, I’m taking most of next week off. 

I became convinced of this while working on a devotional writing assignment this week for a publisher. 

I reached 1 Kings 17:2-4, where the Lord told Elijah to, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

A drought was on the way and God wanted to provide for Elijah. 

As I typically do, I checked several commentaries to get their take on these verses and Matthew Henry’s (concise commentary) stood out: “If Providence calls us to solitude and retirement, it becomes us to go: when we cannot be useful, we must be patient; and when we cannot work for God, we must sit still quietly for him. The ravens were appointed to bring him meat, and did so. Let those who have but from hand to mouth, learn to live upon Providence, and trust it for the bread of the day, in the day.”

I don’t know what state of mind this post finds you in, but if you sense that you need some downtime, find a way to make it happen. You’ll return to your regularly scheduled activities refreshed.