Why Solitude Is Necessary for Impartation

As a nurse of 27 years and an active mother of 32 years, my life has been a shared event for over three decades. I have four children: two adult children, ages 32 and 28, and two younger ones, ages 16 and 12. My journey as a mother began early, with two children by two different men in my youth. In my mid-20s, I resolved not to have another child unless it was with my husband. True to my decision, I married in my thirties and gave my husband two children. This unique dynamic of having two sets of children has made solitude a rare commodity in my life.

In the early 2000s, I began learning from the teachings of wisdom teacher Mike Murdock. I invested in countless books and immersed myself in his teachings, which have profoundly shaped my understanding of life. Among the many lessons I learned, one of the most transformative was the gift of solitude.

Mike Murdock taught me that it is normal to love the atmosphere of friends, and that connection is essential for multiplication. Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us, “Two are better than one.” Relationships and connections are vital. However, he also emphasized that certain assignments in life require withdrawing from others. Solitude is often necessary for the process of receiving wisdom, guidance, and restoration.

Withdrawing is not easy. People often become frustrated when they cannot dominate your time. As a mother, wife, and entrepreneur, my phone constantly rings, my inbox overflows with emails, and people frequently demand my attention. While some of these demands are important, many are not. When I don’t respond immediately, people sometimes accuse me of ignoring them. But the truth is, I am not ignoring them; I am teaching them to respect my time.

Even Jesus, in His ministry, demonstrated the importance of solitude. Luke 5:15-16 states, “But so much the more went there fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed.” Jesus understood that ministry is emptying. Restoring others requires you to pour out of yourself, and solitude is necessary to refill and restore.

In Matthew 8:18, Jesus saw the crowds and “gave the commandment to depart unto the other side.” Similarly, in Mark 6:31-32, He instructed His disciples, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. These moments of withdrawal were not acts of neglect but of necessity.

Jesus’ encounter with the woman with the issue of blood further illustrates this point. When she touched the hem of His garment, He felt power leave Him (Mark 5:30). Ministry and service draw something out of you, and solitude is essential to replenish what has been given.

Sometimes you must withdraw from the pressure of people. Other times, you must withdraw from the pleasure of people. This withdrawal is not about being rude or ignoring others; it is about prioritizing yourself so that you can return refreshed and better equipped to serve. The saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” holds true. Restoration for yourself may offend others, but your ultimate accountability is to God.

Mike Murdock wisely said, “There is a costly season for sowing your life into others.

Then there’s a compensation season for reaping from the One who gave you your assignment.” Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” If you live a life of constantly pleasing everyone while neglecting yourself, you cannot effectively sow into others.

This year, I encourage you to prioritize solitude. Take time for yourself—just you and God. Solitude is necessary for impartation, for helping, teaching, and pouring into others. When you create space for restoration, you honor both yourself and the One who has called you to your assignment. Let this be the year you embrace the gift of solitude and experience the fullness of what God has in store for you.