In our noisy world, true solitude feels almost counter-cultural. Yet, it is in the intentional quiet—those moments of spending quality time alone with the Lord—that I have learned my most profound lessons about my identity, my purpose, and the nature of God’s grace.
I used to think “quiet time” was a task to be checked off. I would start my timer and immediately launch into a monologue of my anxieties. The Lord politely let me vent, but the real transformation only happened when I learned to listen. I once spent an entire Saturday morning sitting in my prayer chair, and instead of speaking Psalm 23, I simply let the words “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” settle into my soul over and over.
That morning, I learned that my identity is not found in my productivity. Alone with the Lord, I didn’t have to perform. I wasn’t the CEO, the parent, or the teacher; I was simply His child.
There was also a season when I was struggling with a major life decision. I desperately wanted an answer. But as I sat alone with the Word, God didn’t give me a map; He gave me assurance of His Presence. I realized I was more in love with His guidance than I was with Him. In the solitude, I learned to trust the Giver more than the gift.
Quality time alone has taught me that stillness is a strategy, not lazy procrastination. In the presence of the Father, my messy thoughts get reorganized, my weak faith is strengthened, and my heart finds its rhythm again. It isn’t an escape from the world; it is the necessary retreat that equips me to return to it with Christ’s peace.
Comments and Replies
I am really inspired by your story and I am truly under a lot of stress right now. I am finding it difficult to just sit still and be quiet in his presence. Can you give some advice on how I can find peace in the midst of my storms?”
Susan James
Thank you so much for your honesty and vulnerability. I want to start by saying, I completely understand. The challenge of sitting still is often greatest when we need it most. When the storms are howling, our instinct is to run, to fix, or to vent—not to be quiet.
DailyDevotion.online
The advice I can offer you is exactly what I have to tell myself when my own faith is feeling overwhelmed
Finding Peace in Your Storm: A Gentle Strategy
The first step in finding silence is paradoxically the opposite of silence. We often mistake true solitude with complete silence, when in reality, solitude is an internal posture, not an external environment.
Practice “Proactive” and Specific Venting
In my blog, I mentioned turning my quiet time into a monologue of anxiety. This is a very real pitfall, but a key strategy is to change how you vent. Don’t just let a general, messy cloud of stress hover over you. Take a piece of paper and write down exactly what is stressing you.
Bring that list to the Lord. Instead of a general cry of “I’m stressed,” be specific: “Father, I am overwhelmed by this deadline,” or “Lord, I am terrified of this medical test result.” This is not an empty ventilation; it is an act of proactive deposition. You are physically and spiritually depositing your worries into His hands, giving you a tangible way to say, “I am giving this to You now.”
Find an “Anchor Phrase” (A “Psalm 23 Strategy”)
This is the advice that changed everything for me. When you are under extreme stress, your mind is a raging river. You cannot swim against that current by simply trying to think about “nothing.” You need a sturdy rock to hold onto.
This is why I highly recommend the “one-sentence scripture” technique I used with Psalm 23. Do not try to read a whole chapter. Take one simple, profound, comforting phrase of Scripture. For example:
“The Lord is my shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1)
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
“My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 34:18)
Do not try to interpret or “study” it. Just say it slowly to yourself, over and over. Let it be the anchor that holds your drifting thoughts in place.
Start with “The Five-Minute Anchor”
The pressure of “needing a long quiet time” is itself a source of stress. Forget an hour, or even 20 minutes. Start with five minutes. Set a timer. Close your eyes. Recite your chosen anchor phrase. When (not if) your mind wanders to the storm, do not get discouraged. Simply use the phrase as a gentle leash to pull your mind back. You are not performing; you are practicing.
In Conclusion: You are Not an Escapee, You are a Child
Finally, remember what you said you learned in my blog: “Alone with the Lord, I was simply His child.”
Do not approach this stillness as a high-stakes test you are failing. Approach it as a tired, stressed-out child climbing into their Father’s lap. He does not demand that you be silent or calm. He invites you, specifically, because He is your calm. Let Him provide the peace; your only task is to show up and stay put for five minutes.