The Men of Iron Minute

by Chad Zueck | Director of Content Creation

5 Reasons Why Men Need to Seek Solitude

Hundreds of people are pulling at Jesus. Tugging. Asking. Questioning. Crying. Pleading.

“Hey Jesus, Come here!”

“Jesus! Jesus! Can you help us?”

“Jesus, who do you think you are… God?”

Excessive human interaction takes an unimaginable toll. Introverts and extroverts are never immune to the emotional and spiritual drain from demands and expectations. Everyone has a tipping point, and we all need a plan to deal with the onslaught of our challenges. By peering into the rhythms of Jesus’ life, Jesus knew how to avoid emotional flameout and spiritual burnout. Jesus pulled away from the followers and crowds to spend time with the Father. Here are five examples of when and why Jesus chose solitude.

1. To focus on prayer

• “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16, NIV

2. To recharge after hard work

• “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:30-32, NIV

3. To work through grief

• “At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people because they considered John a prophet. On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened; he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.” Matthew 13:1-13, NIV

4. To Prepare for a major task

• “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them, he was hungry.” Luke 4:1-2, NIV

5. Before making an important decision

• “One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.” Luke 6:12-13, NIV

Do something.

Dare greatly.

Be a better man.

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