Withdraw to be with Him
“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Luke 5:15-16
To fully appreciate what Jesus models for us in Luke 5:16, we need to reflect on the background: Jesus was surrounded by crowds pressing in, hungry for His words and desperate for His healing touch. At this time His ministry was thriving as reports of His power spread like wildfire and people flocked to Him. Success, by any human measure, was His.
Yet, in the midst of this whirlwind, Jesus did something remarkable: He withdrew. He stepped away from the noise, the demands, and the accolades to seek solitude with His Father in prayer. What a powerful example He sets for us.
We live in a world that celebrates busyness and achievement. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of doing good things—serving others, pursuing goals, even advancing God’s kingdom—and lose sight of what matters most. Jesus shows us that no matter how successful or fruitful our efforts may be, our souls were created for something deeper: a love relationship with God. He didn’t let the demands of the crowd or the thrill of success keep Him from the best thing—communing with His Father.
It’s important to note a subtle warning that we can derive from this passage: In success, we can forget. We can become prideful and neglect what we need most. Our hurried souls and tired bodies can distract us from lingering in God’s presence, where true joy and rest are found. As my friend Pastor Troy Keaton beautifully wrote in a recent devotional on Luke 10:20-23:
Jesus modeled this truth perfectly. He didn’t measure His worth by the size of the crowds or the number of miracles performed. His joy, His strength, His purpose flowed from His connection to the Father. And the same is true for us.
What if the greatest blessing of your day isn’t what you accomplish, but the moments you spend with God? Picture this: starting your morning by hearing His voice, worshiping Him, talking with Him about what’s on your heart, and resting in the promise that He hears you.
As Augustine once said, “Our souls are restless until they find rest in Him.” That soul rest isn’t tied to performance or success—it’s found in knowing that in Jesus, you have everything you’ll ever need.
You don’t need accolades to feel good about yourself. You don’t have to chase the approval of others to find your worth. Yes, it’s good to be fruitful and to bless others, but the secret to a life that overflows with joy and purpose is this: Find your all in Him.
When you rest in God’s presence, your cup runs over, and you can minister to others from a place of spiritual abundance rather than soul weariness.
Here’s the challenge (I’m preaching to myself too): Don’t let success, accolades, or even the craving for approval drive you. Don’t let good things—even noble, godly pursuits—keep you from the best thing; knowing God and rejoicing in all that you are and all that you have in Jesus.
As my friend, Troy Keaton explained, like the disciples in Luke 10, who were recalibrated by Jesus to rejoice not in their ministry victories but in the simple truth that their names were written in heaven, we too must keep our eyes fixed on what matters most.
Take time to follow Jesus’ example: Withdraw from the noise, even for a moment, and linger in God’s presence. Let His grace wash over you, reminding you that your salvation, your relationship with Him, is the greatest miracle of all. From that place of rest, you’ll find the strength to live fruitfully—not for your glory, but for His.
To fully appreciate what Jesus models for us in Luke 5:16, we need to reflect on the background: Jesus was surrounded by crowds pressing in, hungry for His words and desperate for His healing touch. At this time His ministry was thriving as reports of His power spread like wildfire and people flocked to Him. Success, by any human measure, was His.
Yet, in the midst of this whirlwind, Jesus did something remarkable: He withdrew. He stepped away from the noise, the demands, and the accolades to seek solitude with His Father in prayer. What a powerful example He sets for us.
We live in a world that celebrates busyness and achievement. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of doing good things—serving others, pursuing goals, even advancing God’s kingdom—and lose sight of what matters most. Jesus shows us that no matter how successful or fruitful our efforts may be, our souls were created for something deeper: a love relationship with God. He didn’t let the demands of the crowd or the thrill of success keep Him from the best thing—communing with His Father.
It’s important to note a subtle warning that we can derive from this passage: In success, we can forget. We can become prideful and neglect what we need most. Our hurried souls and tired bodies can distract us from lingering in God’s presence, where true joy and rest are found. As my friend Pastor Troy Keaton beautifully wrote in a recent devotional on Luke 10:20-23:
“The greatest miracle in our life is not our service to the Lord, but the salvation that the Lord has brought to our own hearts. Ministers or believers that place anything above their personal walk with God will soon fall into trouble. Successful service can be the source of pride but a constant awareness of the grace of God that is at work in our life keeps us humble and useful to Jesus.”
Jesus modeled this truth perfectly. He didn’t measure His worth by the size of the crowds or the number of miracles performed. His joy, His strength, His purpose flowed from His connection to the Father. And the same is true for us.
What if the greatest blessing of your day isn’t what you accomplish, but the moments you spend with God? Picture this: starting your morning by hearing His voice, worshiping Him, talking with Him about what’s on your heart, and resting in the promise that He hears you.
As Augustine once said, “Our souls are restless until they find rest in Him.” That soul rest isn’t tied to performance or success—it’s found in knowing that in Jesus, you have everything you’ll ever need.
You don’t need accolades to feel good about yourself. You don’t have to chase the approval of others to find your worth. Yes, it’s good to be fruitful and to bless others, but the secret to a life that overflows with joy and purpose is this: Find your all in Him.
When you rest in God’s presence, your cup runs over, and you can minister to others from a place of spiritual abundance rather than soul weariness.
Here’s the challenge (I’m preaching to myself too): Don’t let success, accolades, or even the craving for approval drive you. Don’t let good things—even noble, godly pursuits—keep you from the best thing; knowing God and rejoicing in all that you are and all that you have in Jesus.
As my friend, Troy Keaton explained, like the disciples in Luke 10, who were recalibrated by Jesus to rejoice not in their ministry victories but in the simple truth that their names were written in heaven, we too must keep our eyes fixed on what matters most.
Take time to follow Jesus’ example: Withdraw from the noise, even for a moment, and linger in God’s presence. Let His grace wash over you, reminding you that your salvation, your relationship with Him, is the greatest miracle of all. From that place of rest, you’ll find the strength to live fruitfully—not for your glory, but for His.