WE NEED SOME SPACE

There's something counterintuitive about success. We chase it, work for it, pray for it—and then when it finally arrives, we often find ourselves more distant from God than ever before. The promotion comes through. The relationship finally works out. The business takes off. The house closes. And somehow, in the midst of getting everything we wanted, we lose sight of the One who made it all possible.

This paradox sits at the heart of a powerful moment in Mark's Gospel, chapter one, verse 35. Jesus had just experienced what we might call a "viral moment" in ministry. He'd been preaching, healing the sick, casting out demons—doing miracles that drew crowds from everywhere. If this were today, his social media would be exploding. Everyone wanted a piece of him. The disciples were probably riding high, witnessing their teacher at the peak of his influence. But then something unexpected happened.

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus slipped away. He went to a desolate place—somewhere quiet, somewhere alone—and there he prayed. When the disciples finally found him, they were almost frantic: "Everyone is looking for you! Where have you been?"
Jesus didn't apologize. He didn't rush back to capitalize on his momentum. Instead, he simply said, "Let's move on to the next towns. That's why I came."
He had clarity. He had direction. He had peace. And it all came from that sacred space he'd created with his Father.

The Model We're Missing

Here's what makes this moment so significant: Jesus withdrew because of his success, not in spite of it. Right when things were taking off, right when the crowds were biggest, right when everyone wanted more—he pulled back. He created space.

This is the model we desperately need but rarely follow. We think that success means we can finally relax our spiritual disciplines. We got the answer to our prayers, so we stop praying. We reached the goal, so we stop seeking God with the same intensity. We mistake arrival for permission to coast.

But Jesus shows us the opposite: success increases the need for silence.

The higher you climb, the more you need to get alone with God. The more people need you, the more you need Him. The busier your schedule becomes, the more intentional you must be about creating sacred space.

Distraction Disguised as Devotion

The story of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10 adds another layer to this truth. When Jesus came to their home, Martha immediately got busy serving. She was doing good things—preparing food, making sure everything was perfect, being the ultimate hostess. Meanwhile, Mary simply sat at Jesus' feet.

Martha eventually got frustrated and complained: "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!"

But here's the stunning reality: Martha was distracted by serving. She was so busy doing things for Jesus that she missed being with Jesus.

This is the trap many of us fall into. We fill our lives with good activities—even ministry activities—but we're still distracted. We're moving, working, producing, performing... but we're not present. We're not creating space to actually hear from God.

Distraction is the enemy of depth. You cannot develop a deep relationship with God through activity alone, no matter how noble that activity might be. You can't download intimacy with the Divine in a one-hour worship service once a week. Depth requires space. It requires silence. It requires showing up and sometimes just being quiet.

What You Don't Schedule, You Won't Sustain

Here's a practical truth: if it's not in your calendar, it's not real. We make time for the things that matter to us. We set alarms for job interviews, doctor's appointments, and picking up the kids from practice. We schedule date nights and workout sessions and coffee with friends.

But when it comes to time with God, we treat it like something that will just happen naturally. We tell ourselves we'll pray "when we get a chance" or read scripture "when things slow down." But things never slow down. Chances rarely appear on their own.
Creating space with God requires the same intentionality we give to everything else we value. It means blocking out time—actual time on your calendar—and protecting it. It means finding a place where you can be alone and undistracted. It means showing up even when you don't feel like it.

And here's something revolutionary: sometimes the best prayer is silence. Show up, tell God you're there to listen, and then be quiet. The first day will feel awkward. The second day will be a little easier. By day seven, you'll start to experience something transformative.

Space Creates Clarity

When Jesus withdrew to that desolate place early in the morning, he emerged with crystal-clear direction. He knew where to go next. He knew what to do. He wasn't swayed by the crowd's demands or the disciples' expectations. He had clarity.

This is what space with God provides. When you're constantly surrounded by noise—other people's opinions, social media feeds, endless notifications, the pressure to perform—you can't hear yourself think, let alone hear God speak.

But when you create space, clarity comes. You start to see which opportunities to pursue and which to decline. You gain wisdom about relationships, career decisions, family dynamics. You find direction for questions that have been plaguing you.

Space doesn't just refresh you—it redirects you.

The Invitation

The challenge is simple but not easy: create space for the next seven days. Find a time and a place where you can be alone with God. Put it in your calendar. Set an alarm. Protect it like you would any other important appointment.

When you get there, don't bring an agenda. Don't bring a long list of requests. Just show up and say, "God, I'm here. I want to listen."

You might be surprised by what happens when you stop talking long enough to hear what God has been trying to say all along. You might discover that the space you create with God becomes the most important part of your week—not a burden to bear, but a gift to receive.

Because here's the truth: we all need some space. Not space from God, but space with God. Sacred space. Silent space. Space where success doesn't distract us, where service doesn't replace presence, where we remember who gave us everything we have in the first place.

Make room. Create space. And watch what God does when you finally give Him the opportunity to speak into your life without interruption.