But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray (Luke 5:6 ESV).
When I was just eight years old, my family moved to Denver, Colorado, so my older sister could pursue her dream of becoming an Olympic figure skater. Amidst all the changes and loneliness` that came with this move, I found solace in golf.
While my sister and mother were occupied with skating, my brother was away at boarding school, and my father was managing our family’s company back in Atlanta. As a result, I spent countless hours on the golf course. I have jokingly said over the years that I was raised by PGA Professionals during those formative years.
The golf course that became my sanctuary was Foothills Golf Club in Denver. One hole on the back nine offered a breathtaking view of the majestic Colorado mountain range. Even as a young girl, I felt that there was something sacred about this spot, and every time I played it, I felt a strong desire to pray. Pushing my golf cart over the rolling hills and mounds, I often spoke to Jesus, hoping He could hear me, yet sensing His presence nearby. I found peace and comfort there; it was my special place with Jesus.
Loneliness is something that Jesus Himself experienced, often retreating to secluded places to pray and connect with His Heavenly Father, “In these days he went into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God (Luke 6:12). He prayed in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-2); He prayed in lonely places (Matt. 14:13); and one of His special places, while He was in Jerusalem, was in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39; Matt. 26:36).
In times of loneliness and solitude, we, too, can find sacred places to draw near to God and seek comfort and intimacy with Him. These consecrated spaces can help us quiet our minds and free us from the distractions of the world.
While experiencing seasons of loneliness can be uncomfortable and even painful, we can view these seasons as being ordained by the Lord to bring us closer to Him and to encourage us to rely solely on His comfort, peace, and guidance. Psalm 91:1-2 says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
It goes on further in the Psalm and tells us the blessing of seeking the Lord’s shelter, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent (vss.9-10, ESV).”
In the summer of 2021, I felt a strong call from the Lord to revisit my special hole at Foothills Golf Club, more than thirty years after I first found solace there. I took my youngest son with me, and the Lord met us there in a powerful way. He is a faithful God who sustains us through all the twists and turns of life, especially when we seek Him in the lonely places. The Apostle James reminds us when we draw near to God; He draws near to us (James 4:8).
Prayer: “Lord, you are our refuge and shelter. Draw near to us as we draw near to you. Amen.”