He Withdrew To Lonely Places
The habit underneath everything Jesus did.
On solitude as a practice, not a personality trait.
The big idea
The most in-demand person who ever lived kept leaving the room.
Opening scripture
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
What does “He Withdrew To Lonely Places” walk through?
Often, Not Once
Luke 5:16 · KJV
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
In plain English
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
A Pattern, Not A Mood
Luke uses a word for repeated action — this was a habit, not a one-off retreat. The busier Jesus got, the more he did it, which is the exact opposite of how most of us respond to demand.
Come Away And Rest
Mark 6:31 · KJV
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
In plain English
He said to them: come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest a while — because so many were coming and going that they had no time even to eat.
He Told Them To Do It Too
When the disciples came back full of news, Jesus did not debrief them. He told them to go somewhere quiet and eat. Withdrawal was something he taught, not just something he needed.
He Went Up Alone
Matthew 14:23 · KJV
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
In plain English
After sending the crowds away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
“He had three years and the weight of the world. He still went up the mountain by himself.”
Be Still
Psalms 46:10 · KJV
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
In plain English
Be still, and know that I am God.
Pray
Jesus, you kept leaving to be with your Father. Teach me how. Amen.
Write it down
Where is the lonely place available to you this week?
Go somewhere quiet
Not forever. Just often.
Which passages does this journey use?
4 passages, drawn from Luke 5:16, Mark 6:31, Matthew 14:23, Psalms 46:10. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 7 minutes for the whole thing, or 8 short sittings.
- Luke 5:16
- Mark 6:31
- Matthew 14:23
- Psalms 46:10
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in The Habits of Jesus
All The Habits of Jesus →Before Dawn
What Jesus did before the day could ask anything of him.
He Slept In The Storm
Rest that does not wait for calm.
Interruptible
Jesus kept getting stopped, and kept stopping.
He Asked Questions
Jesus asked far more than he answered.
He Was Never In A Hurry
Urgency was not one of his tools.
He Touched People
Presence you could feel.