“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” Luke 5:16 (NLT)
Luke 5 is packed with power: a miraculous catch of fish, a man with leprosy healed, vast crowds delivered from diseases by Jesus, a paralyzed man lowered through the roof, and the wisdom to confront religious leaders who had everything backwards. It’s one of those chapters that leaves you in awe of Jesus’ authority.
But tucked quietly between the crowds and the miracles is this verse: “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”
That word wilderness doesn’t just mean barren land—it means quiet. Jesus wasn’t running on empty. He was constantly being refilled. While everyone else saw the public power, He made sure to protect the private connection. He prayed.
We often want the results of Jesus’ life without practicing His rhythm. But the same will be true for us: our power comes from our prayer. Our strength flows from stillness. When we withdraw to the quiet—our prayer room, our car, even a quiet bench outside—we meet with God. And when we step back into the world, they’ll see His power, not ours.
If we put our hope in Christ alone, we’ll reorder our lives to reflect that. Before the miracles, before the meetings, before the noise—withdraw.