As a stay-at-home-mom and writer, I have plenty of time alone. Even time spent with my kids can be “alone time.” But though my days are filled with solitary endeavors, I feel just as drained at bedtime as if I worked an office job. This seems like a contradiction—how can an introvert feel spent after being alone?

But being an introvert doesn’t just mean having time alone—it means time to recharge.

I’ve written about the challenges of being an introverted mom. And while daily tasks contribute to my weariness, often I just feel like I haven’t spent any time with myself. Or—more importantly—with God. 

Sometimes multiple days go by before I realize I’ve been squeezing writing or Bible study into 15 minute windows throughout my day. That’s like trying to feel well-rested after waking up every hour. In other words, why parents of newborns always have that “zombie” look. And while the practice helps me check off boxes in my daily routine, it doesn’t serve to fuel me.

Solitude is an oasis in the desert of the modern world. It’s in the space of solitude I can be vulnerable. Whether on the page or in my prayers, I can approach the Lord without fear of interruption. But my creativity and my patience soon run dry when I’m hopping from puddle to puddle. 

Jesus was intentional about guarding his solitude. The Gospels record multiple accounts of Jesus rising early to pray and meditate. I’m sure he was tired too. His work never ended, and people may have scoffed at his dedication to solitude when so many needed him.

But here is the lesson I can learn from my Savior—we must be filled to overflow. 

There are seasons of drought when our time feels spread thin. I’m in one of those seasons now. But stewarding solitude becomes even more necessary when rest is hard to come by. Like Jesus, we must draw from a deep well before we can offer others a drink.

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