With a 6-year age gap, you’d think my kids would have little interest in feuding, but they seem to have a magnetic pull toward it. When my kids start going at each other, I’ve started to tell them to, “Take yourself away.” Rather than lashing out, using an unkind word, or pushing, I encourage them to take a moment away from the emotional situation. It’s important to give yourself breaks from the stress. A former coworker used to sit in the bathroom stall at school and do belly breaths. For me, putting in my AirPods and listening to music helps. Jesus also set an example of “taking yourself away.”
Was Jesus an introvert? Whether or not He was, He certainly demonstrated the “Take yourself away” strategy.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” — Mark 1:35
This practice is also mentioned in Luke 4:42: “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him, and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.”
In Mark 6:31, we see Jesus advising His disciples to take time away: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
After hearing about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus also withdrew: “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.” — Matthew 14:13
Jesus not only took Himself away to pray but also invited His closest companions into the habit: “About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.” — Luke 9:28
Jesus had a routine of retreating to pray, as seen in Luke 22:39-41: “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed.”
Jesus’ example shows us the importance of stepping away from the hustle and bustle to recharge and refocus. It was a habit for Him: “went out as usual.”
In our busy lives, we can follow Jesus’ example and take time to retreat and find peace. Whether it’s stepping away to pray, doing deep breathing exercises, or listening to calming music, these moments of solitude can help us handle stress and conflict better. So next time things get heated, remember to “take yourself away” and find a moment of peace.