The answer to that question, of course, has to be, ‘No! Isolation is not good.’
As a human being I know that to be true. I can easily feel unnerved by prolonged times of silence – you know, when you’re doing something (in the house or at work) then you suddenly realise there’s no around, it’s all quiet, and you sense there might be something wrong.
Or in a movie, silence is used (as one of many forms) to demonstrate someone’s isolation and so build tension. And we know that solitary confinement is one of the worst forms of punishment in the prison system. We’ve seen and heard about it – the things it can do to break even the hardest of criminals down.
No, isolation is not good.
Contact – relationship – with others is in our DNA. As a Christian I know that to be true. At the start of the Bible, we see how God creates the vast heavens and the earth bursting with life: plants, birds, animals, sea creatures, forests, deserts and then, at the climax of it all, he creates a human being, a man. It’s all so good. Perfect. Unspoilt. Ready to go. But there’s still a problem – God observes it all and declares, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis chapter 2 verse 18).
We were made to have relationship with our Maker (Genesis 2.7; 3.8) and with the world entrusted to us (Genesis 1.26-28; 2.15). But are made for relationship with each other – without that something HUGE is missing. We are not complete. As seen in those solitary confinement cells, we can lose our mind when left on our own.
In light of our current isolation – with the lockdown (rightly) imposed on our nation – are we going to lose our minds? It certainly does seem overwhelming, especially as we simply don’t know when we might regain freedom, so to speak. And, that can lead to- anxiety, worry, loss of mental health, disordered lives and a whole load of other side-effects.
But to return to the original question – can isolation be good? – I want to say that it’s not all bad. In fact, over the millennia Christian saints have gone to isolated places for prolonged periods of time ON PURPOSE. Think of the Desert Fathers or monastic communities for example. In recent years, many people have discovered the value of retreats (remember the series “The Monastery”?). Some even go for weeks in complete silence! That’s hard-core.
So, if there’s a chance isolation can be good - what can we take from it today (at this specific time of the corona virus pandemic and more generally into the future)??
Here’s a couple of thoughts.
1- ISOLATION MAKES US RE-EVALUATE WHAT MATTERS MOST IN LIFE.
It’s at times of aloneness that we can regain perspective and take hold of what really matters. Net result: we live closer to God and so come into line with His sovereign purpose for our lives. Think about Jesus in the wilderness. All that temptation, all the ‘call of the world’ was knocked out of him and, following his isolation, he came back into the world filled with the power and joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke chapter 4 verse 14). Wow! Bam!
This isolation wasn’t easy for Jesus. It won’t be for us. But God can use it for greater things – as they say, “No pain, no gain!” So don’t see your isolation as entirely bad. It is also an opportunity to take hold of something greater.
As an action, perhaps you can ask:
· ‘what are you teaching me here Lord, what do you want to show me?’
· ‘what can I learn through this … worry … guilt… pain … etc.?’
· ‘how is this shaping my view of life, God and heaven?’
· ‘how can this time be used to grow closer to the Father and to receive from Him?’
2- ISOLATION FORCES ME TO SEE WHAT’S IN MY HAND.
Often we think God is taking everything away – and there are times in this life when some people have to endure inexplicable pain (illness, trials, persecution, bereavement, tragedy etc.) which must not be simply explained away glibly. Remember, Paul tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans chapter 12 verse 15). There are times when there are no words or easy answers; all we can do is sit with people and weep with them.
However, more often, when we feel ‘stripped’ by life’s circumstances, it’s a great opportunity to take stock and see what we do have in this moment – if we stop and look we would realise we have far more than we realise. We possess things of great value.
So, for Elijah on Mount Horeb, when he says, “[everything is ruined] and I am the only one left” (1 Kings 19.10), God says ‘No! You have oil to anoint kings, my Word to proclaim and 7,000 other prophets who are on your side!’ Or, when Paul is put in prison he looks to his hand and sees he has a pen and scrolls with which he can write some of his most amazing letters – which, thank the Lord, now speak to us from the pages of the Bible.
So, rather than focussing on what you don’t have – have you stopped to consider what is in your hand today? It could be pen to write a letter, a phone to encourage someone, a way of sharing the gospel with another person, a creative streak to paint, a passion for cooking to provide for others (in your household at this current time!), a couple of pounds to give to a homeless charity, energy to give to the Good Neighbour scheme, an entrepreneurial streak to create new ideas etc.
What is in your hand?
Look hard. There will be something. Start using it – and you will begin to flourish.
Yes, you may be stripped right now – but understand that ‘less is more’ as they say. Jesus said it too when he talked about being pruned back like a vine – in John chapter 15 – so that we will bear more fruit and flourish.
3- ISOLATION ALLOWS SPACE FOR THE MIRACULOUS.
When we get do finally get to the end, when we hit rock bottom – that’s the place where the only thing we can hope for is a miracle.
This is seen in the best case of enforced isolation I can see in the Bible: Lazarus. I mean this guy has been dead for 4 days – so no wonder he’s shut in! The family are left in tatters. Tears are flowing. There’s nothing left. Nothing anyone can do. Right?
Enter Jesus, who speaks to Lazarus and tells him to come out of his grave! And – unbelievably – out comes Lazarus. When there’s nothing left, when hope has gone, when we are at our lowest – we can enter into the reality of the God who can save and deliver us from anything no matter how hopeless it seems. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is beyond Him. Miracles are near.
As someone once said, “Jesus + Nothing = Everything”
Contemplate that very statement.
Things are never beyond hope. We can always cry out to our Father through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. He can do anything. Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Restore a broken relationship. Renew hope. Remove a danger. Bring someone to faith. Carry us through life and through death into eternal glory.
It does take faith. But isolation can be the perfect breeding ground for faith in God because that’s all we’ve got. But as the equation-statement [Jesus + Nothing = Everything] above shows us, it’s all we really need!
So –two things to do,
1- Contemplate this equation – meditate on it carefully and write down your thoughts
2- Use this time to listen to stories and testimonies of how God has been at work in peoples’ lives to do miraculous things
On that second point, I think about the lives of people like Corrie ten Boom, Jackie Pullinger-Po (“Chasing the Dragon”), Brother Yun (“The Heavenly Man”), Watchman Nee, John Wimber, Mother Teresa and many others.
Perhaps take one, perhaps two thoughts or ideas for action from this and see how you get on. Perhaps isolation could be good?
All thoughts and wisdom welcome. Pile in.