In solitude we find peace of mind

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 

~ Mark 1:35, ESV ~

There is a difference between feeling lonely and spending time in solitude. In recovery, one of the greatest threats to moving toward a life of meaning and purpose is to come to a place of experiencing solitude. We’ve experienced loneliness. The sadness and despondence it brings into our souls. This is due to the pain we have experienced in our lives. Pain that we have numbed through our compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors. Our relationships suffer because in our sense of emptiness, we isolate ourselves. We become afraid of being alone and do what we can to avoid it.

Unlike loneliness, solitude affords us an opportunity to be at peace with ourselves. We become fully acquainted with who we are, develop a deeper sense of honesty and appreciation, and enrich our spiritual development. Christ often committed himself to be in solitude. Here, he prayed to the Father. As we spend time in meditation, we are consciously connected with our Heavenly Father. We discover that in our time of solitude, we are not alone.

It is in these quiet times where we pray and meditate, God reveals to us more and more of His love, grace, and will for our lives.