If ever there was a biblical character deeply connected with God, it was Elijah.

Elijah’s legendary faith grew stronger through the challenges God sent his way. While Elijah sometimes got discouraged, he didn’t give up. He knew that even in the hard times, God was with him. He persevered. He prayed. He trusted even when tested. Elijah serves as a great role model for us.

In 1 Kings 17, Elijah the prophet has just given an extraordinary word to King Ahab. And in verses 2 and 3, we read, “The word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” In other words, God was telling Elijah to leave the bright lights of the castle, the busy activity in Israel, and go to the brook of Cherith to hide for a little while. The meaning of solitude is simply to enter into God’s rest. It’s setting aside time with God so you clearly understand what His marching orders are.

Many of us don’t know what we’re doing or why we’re doing it, because we haven’t stopped long enough to hear from God. In fact, we’re so busy listening to everybody else that we don’t hear Him. One of the repeated themes in the book of Hebrews is the rest of God. The writer of Hebrews says,

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.…For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:1, 8-9)

God’s word to Elijah was to go to the brook of Cherith. A brook was not a spectacular place to go, but God doesn’t require us to meet Him someplace fancy. He just wants us to meet with Him. It needs to be a place of quiet, a place where we can focus.

God didn’t tell Elijah to go to the Jordan River. There was probably too much traffic there. When you want to be alone with God, you need a place that’s isolated, a place that can be your own.

You want a place where there is enough stillness that if the Holy Spirit has something unique to say to you about a decision, a direction, or a relationship, you will be able to hear it in your spirit.

Why does God want us to “go to the brook”? Why does He want us to find solitude? To get a fresh word from Him, that He might develop our Christian character for the new challenges ahead. Before you face the new challenges ahead, you’d better stay by the brook. Before you face that big decision in your life, you’d better stay by the brook. Before you face the enemies of God who want to do you in, you’d better stay by the brook.

Solitude allows us to see God’s supernatural work so we can trust Him. When Elijah took the initiative to stand for God in front of King Ahab, God took the initiative to tell Elijah to go to the brook; Elijah’s work had just begun. Whenever God puts you in a situation where you need to find a place of solitude, you can know He has something planned for you just beyond the horizon. God will never send you to the brook, to a time of solitude, to waste your time.

God’s rest is always for your future.

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