"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16)
The word "lonely" stands out to me. It is a word that at a few different points in my life I would have used as the main adjective for my life at that time. It is a word that has a definite connotation to it. There is no apathetic reaction to this word. To qualify as being lonely, this area would have to have been desolate, empty, silent and far removed. Absolute solitude. This is what He sought when He needed to pray. Note that a few words before lonely, the verse says "often." Meaning that this was not a one time occurrence or even just a now and then, but something that happened on a regular basis. From my finite mind, this makes me think that Jesus might have been something like me--an extroverted introvert, or so I label myself. Someone who enjoys being around people and is not shy to make a public appearance but once that energy reserve is gone, absolutely needs to retreat to a place of solitude to recharge.
But let's not leave out that last part of this simple verse-- "and prayed." Jesus didn't just go into hiding and nap or tune out the rest of the world (like I tend to do when I have burned myself out). He prayed. He sought God, the ultimate giver of recharging energy. Makes me think of this verse, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
I'm burned out...exhausted...totally depleted from all the people energy I possibly could have left inside me to give. Instead of hiding in my house and absent mindlessly watching hours of worthless television, maybe I ought to find my eternal plug and reconnect to my source of supernatural power.
Jesus felt the need to. Often. And He seems to always be a good example to follow.
The word "lonely" stands out to me. It is a word that at a few different points in my life I would have used as the main adjective for my life at that time. It is a word that has a definite connotation to it. There is no apathetic reaction to this word. To qualify as being lonely, this area would have to have been desolate, empty, silent and far removed. Absolute solitude. This is what He sought when He needed to pray. Note that a few words before lonely, the verse says "often." Meaning that this was not a one time occurrence or even just a now and then, but something that happened on a regular basis. From my finite mind, this makes me think that Jesus might have been something like me--an extroverted introvert, or so I label myself. Someone who enjoys being around people and is not shy to make a public appearance but once that energy reserve is gone, absolutely needs to retreat to a place of solitude to recharge.
But let's not leave out that last part of this simple verse-- "and prayed." Jesus didn't just go into hiding and nap or tune out the rest of the world (like I tend to do when I have burned myself out). He prayed. He sought God, the ultimate giver of recharging energy. Makes me think of this verse, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
I'm burned out...exhausted...totally depleted from all the people energy I possibly could have left inside me to give. Instead of hiding in my house and absent mindlessly watching hours of worthless television, maybe I ought to find my eternal plug and reconnect to my source of supernatural power.
Jesus felt the need to. Often. And He seems to always be a good example to follow.
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