In the Secret Place

by FaDerricka Harvey

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. Luke 4:42-43 NIV

In this passage of scripture, we see Jesus withdrawing to a solitary place. Even though crowds pressed in to see Him and people longed for more miracles, Jesus knew the importance of stepping away to be alone with the Father. The solitude wasn’t an escape—it was the source of His strength, guidance, and clarity. In those quiet moments,

Jesus was replenished and realigned with the Father’s will. This shows us something vital: it wasn’t just the miracles or the teaching that made His ministry powerful—it was His communion with God. Without the solitary place, the public ministry would not have been sustained.

When Jesus said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God... because that is why I was sent,” He revealed that His ultimate mission was not the works themselves, but proclaiming the gospel. The miracles were signs that pointed to the greater message. Spending time in solitude gave Jesus discernment—to know when to

stay, when to move on, and how to remain centered on His true purpose.

For us, this is a reminder: good works are important, but they cannot replace intimacy with God. If Jesus needed solitude to hear His Father’s voice and stay focused on His mission, how much more do we? Let’s not let busyness—even in doing good—distract us from the “main thing.”

REFLECTION:

But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I

was sent. Luke 4:43 NIV

Jesus reveals the clarity of His purpose. The healings, miracles, and deliverances were powerful demonstrations of God’s Kingdom, but they were never the ultimate goal. His true mission was to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. It was crucial that Jesus did not get overwhelm with the busyness of doing the good works. It could have cause Him to forfeit His true mission. As we reflect on Jesus’ persistence to stay the course, “keeping the main thing the main thing”, be reminded that we must not lose sight of our own God give purpose. It can be easy to become overconsumed with “good works”,but if we forget the central mission—pointing people to Jesus—we risk being busy yet unfruitful. Jesus models for us the perfect balance: caring for the needs of others while remaining fully focused on the Father’s calling.

Jesus made time for solitude with the Father so He could stay aligned with His mission. How might setting aside intentional time with God help you avoid being busy but unfruitful?

PRAYER:

Lord, I ask that You help us understand the importance of keeping You at the center of everything we do. Father, help us recognize that the times of solitude are not meant for escape but for sitting before You to replenish our spirits and ensure we are aligned with Your plans. We never want the busyness of life to overwhelm us from our intimacy with You. Lord, forgive us for the moments we abandon our times of solitude—please grant us the insight to see how crucial it is to spend this time with You completely. Thank You, Lord, for desiring this connection with us. Instill in us a longing to seek this time with You—to be in Your presence and to have the opportunity to listen to Your voice. God, I thank You, in Jesus' name, Amen!