As we face a myriad of complicated situations throughout life, we may ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”
Our responses are likely centered on reaching out—healing, serving, or teaching others. Indeed, Jesus is largely recognized for His charitable interactions with people.
But have we considered the fact that Jesus also spent significant time alone?
President M. Russell Ballard said, “Everyone needs time to meditate and contemplate. Even the Savior of the world, during His mortal ministry, found time to do so.”
In light of this, maybe we can expand our definition of what it means to be Christlike.
Christ Spent Time Away from People
The scriptures imply that Jesus frequently took time to physically separate Himself from people, often before or after significant events.
Before choosing His disciples, Jesus spent the night on a mountain in prayer (Luke 6:12–13). After learning that His cousin John the Baptist had been killed, He went to a “desert place” to be alone (Matthew 14:12–13). After feeding the five thousand, He again prayed alone on a mountain (Matthew 14:23). And in preparation for His public ministry, Jesus spent 40 days fasting alone in the wilderness.
In the Book of Mormon, too, Jesus prayed alone after ministering to the Nephites.
Ecclesiastes reminds us that “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: … A time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
Even the Son of God wasn’t an exception to the ebb and flow of life. Though He spent time healing and building others up, He also needed time alone to ponder, rest, and seek God’s guidance. And this is true for all of us.
Speaking to caregivers in any capacity, President Jeffrey R. Holland said:
“For those of you who earnestly seek to bear another’s burdens, it is important that you refortify yourself and build yourself back up when others expect so much of you and indeed take so much out of you. No one is so strong that they do not ever feel fatigued or frustrated or recognize the need to care for themselves.”
Additionally, the authors of The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints point out that taking time for ourselves can be a Christlike act:
“We don’t often say as Church members, ‘When life throws you a blow, take some private time for yourself. Go to a quiet place that you enjoy and step out of the demands of your life for a little while and regroup—because that’s what the Savior would do.’
“But He did.”
What Christlike Alone Time Looks Like
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus counsels:
“When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).
Jesus practiced what He preached—in almost all the scriptural incidents when He spends time alone, He does so in prayer.
His example teaches us that Christlike solitude is about more than just being by ourselves. We can easily spend time alone yet be caught up in a catchy song, lost in anxious rumination, distracted by our day’s to-do list, or scrolling endlessly on our phones.
But when we’re alone and when we invite God’s presence, we can receive personalized and private guidance for our personal and private problems.
After all, it’s when we’re alone with someone in a quiet place that we can best hear their voice.
The authors of The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints also comment on the nature of Christ’s private retreats:
“Rather than heal one more person, share one more meal, or teach one more sermon, how remarkable to see the Son of God Himself making precious time for retreat. This silence and stillness, of course, was not a neutral, empty space, but rather, one filled with an infusion of tenderness, communication, and connection with His precious Father.”
So, if you’re running low on energy or in need of direction, ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”
For more insights on Jesus Christ, check out the following articles:
▶ What this Hebrew word teaches us about Christ’s nature
▶ 13 life-changing books to help you study the Atonement of Jesus Christ
▶ If you feel strapped for time, this detail from the Savior’s ministry is a game-changer
