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English

The Challenge of Creating a Classroom Culture

Vander Meyden, Calvin

Volume 53 Number 1 Article 4 
September 2024 
Our Need for a Quiet Place 
Calvin Vander Meyden 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/pro_rege 
 Part of the Christianity Commons, and the Higher Education Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Vander Meyden, Calvin (2024) "Our Need for a Quiet Place," Pro Rege: Vol. 
53: No. 1, 25 - 26. 
Available at: https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/pro_rege/vol53/iss1/4 
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Pro Rege—September 2024     25 
Our Need for a Quiet Place
by Calvin Vander Meyden
Rev. Calvin VanderMeyden, a minister in the 
Christian Reformed Church in North America, 
graduated from Calvin University and Seminary; he 
earned his Th.M. from Princeton Seminary. 
Life can be very busy and hectic. In fact, our 
homes can be as busy as a racetrack. 
Then too, life has lots of stress. We wonder, 
“What will the annual physical at the doctor’s of-
fice tell me? Or that PSA test? How will things turn 
out in an election year? What will the stock market 
look like at the end of the year?” Yes, lots of stress!
Then too, life can be painful. Accidents hap-
pen. Emergency surgery is needed. The cold hand 
of death strikes a family member or a dear friend. 
And yes, terrorists torment us. Lots of pain. 
Well, how should we deal with this pain, pres-
sure, and rapid pace of life? Jesus has the answer! 
He says, “Come with me to a quiet place and get 
some rest.” He spoke those words to his disciples. 
And what was the occasion for those words? Well, 
earlier Jesus had sent the 12 disciples into the cit-
ies and villages and countryside. While they were 
there, they preached repentance. They cast out de-
mons and healed the sick. They urged people to be-
lieve in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior from 
sin. 
All of this activity involved a busy schedule 
and strenuous effort. As a result, the disciples were 
exhausted after their tour of duty. Another factor 
must be considered. We are told in our text that 
many people were milling around near the dis-
ciples. Mark says that many were coming and go-
ing, and they (the disciples) did not have any leisure 
time, even to eat. 
It was at this point that Jesus felt enough was 
enough. He realized that when people work hard, 
they need to rest. When they are busy, they need 
some vacation. When they are putting forth all 
kinds of energy, they need to relax and retreat from 
the crowd. At this point, he recommended a quiet 
spot that was isolated and secluded. There they 
could break bread together, chat together, and re-
flect on the good things of the Lord. 
There are several examples of solitude in the 
New Testament which demonstrate how Christ 
himself set aside time for relaxation, refreshment, 
and prayer.
In Mark 1:35, Mark says, “And in the morning, 
a great while before day, Jesus rose up, departed into 
a desert place and there prayed.” There, in that des-
ert place all by Himself, Jesus poured out his heart 
to His heavenly father. He most likely thanked 
God for the opportunity to demonstrate love and 
mercy to the sick, but He was also ready to begin 
a tour of duty in various towns in order to preach 
the Gospel. In His human nature He felt the need 
of strength to carry out this important task. So he 
spoke with His father one-to-one, seeking strength 
to reach the masses with the Gospel. 
If we turn to Matthew 14:13, we find another 
interesting account of Jesus isolating himself for 
the purpose of meditation. Matthew writes, “Now 
when Jesus heard this he withdrew from that place 
in a boat and went to a deserted place.” 
Now this question arises: what did Jesus hear 
that prompted Him to retreat to a solitary place? 
The answer is in the verses just before this text. 
There we are told that the head of John the Baptist 
had been cut off, put on a platter, and paraded 
around to bring shame on Him. After Jesus heard 
about this horrible crime—the death of His dear 
26     Pro Rege—September 2024
friend John the Baptist—he went to a solitary place. 
This shocking murder grieved Jesus deeply. As a re-
sult, he wanted to be alone to reflect, meditate, and 
pray. Jesus realized that grief can be handled best 
by receiving strength from God through prayer. 
Another picture of Christ in solitary prayer 
is found in Mark 6:46. Again we find that Jesus 
went into the mountains to pray. And what was the 
context? While he was praying, the disciples were 
in a boat rowing—rowing hard. They were in the 
middle of a wild and boisterous storm. They were 
in the middle of a very dangerous situation. But re-
member that while the disciples were rowing hard, 
Jesus was praying hard. They labored with the oars 
in the water. He toiled in prayer on the mountain 
for them. And what happened? Jesus answered his 
own prayer. He stopped the wind and waves, and 
the disciples were saved. 
One final example comes to mind. This exam-
ple is in Luke 5:16. In this context Jesus healed a 
man who was full of leprosy. Word quickly spread 
throughout the countryside and cities that this lep-
er was healed by Jesus. The crowds began to press 
in upon Jesus to hear him and to be healed. And 
what was the Lord’s response? Luke 5:16 says, “He 
withdrew into the desert and prayed.” 
Again, when the crowds pressed upon Him, He 
went to a solitary place and prayed. Why did He 
do that? When the crowds pressed in upon him, 
Jesus, in His human nature, grew weary and ex-
hausted. Therefore, in prayer and solitude, he asked 
God to renew his strength so that He could carry 
on His work of preaching, teaching, and healing. 
Secondly, while alone in this desert place, he could 
pray for the salvation of these people. They came 
to him to be healed. But because Jesus also cared 
for their souls, he could, in the peace and quiet of 
a desert place, pray for the salvation of their souls. 
Now, what lessons can we learn from these ac-
counts of Jesus in solitary places in prayer? If the 
divine son of God felt the need to withdraw from 
the push-and-shove atmosphere of daily life, then 
certainly we need those times of refreshment and 
relaxation also. 
If our Savior felt the need to be in prayer with 
His father during times of grief and crisis,  we need 
time in prayer all the more, because we are weak 
and frail people. Christ detached himself from 
the pain, pressure, and rapid pace of life to reflect, 
meditate, and pray. He told his disciples to do the 
same. And now He comes to us and says, “Look! 
Life is busy and boisterous. Life goes at a fast clip—
a rapid pace. Life is a pressure cooker. It confronts 
us with pain. So withdraw periodically. Take time 
for relaxation, refreshment, and prayer so that you 
can go back into the world to serve the Lord and 
His people. Take time to pray, and you will be at 
peace.
Imagine you are taking a trip to Lake Superior. 
You drive into the Porcupine Mountains State Park. 
You park your car and walk a few hundred feet to 
the top of the mountains. Off to your left looms 
Lake Superior—the largest body of fresh water in 
the world. As you stand on the top of the Porcupine 
Mountains, you see not only Lake Superior but also 
down in the valley the Lake of the Clouds. And on 
clear, sunny days, as you look down on that spec-
tacular lake, you can see fluffy, white clouds reflect-
ing on the smooth surface of that lovely lake. As 
you continue to look around, you will see a beau-
tiful river flowing out of the Lake of the Clouds, 
which is surrounded by millions of luscious, green 
trees on the mountain sides, stretching as far as 
the eye can see. The air is clear, crisp, and clean. A 
picture of Paradise! Pointing to the greatness, glory 
and grandeur of God. 
And then as the sun begins to set, it shines in all 
of its beauty and brilliance on that vast green forest. 
The mountains literally light up. On all sides you 
are surrounded, enveloped by a rich, glorious, and 
green cathedral—truly an oasis in the middle of a 
busy and boisterous world. A gift from our glorious 
God! The peace and quiet tranquility of the mo-
ment is overwhelming.
And then in the silence, we hear the voice of 
our Lord and Savior as He says, “Be still and know 
that I am God!”  


Our Need for a Quiet Place

De Ruyter, Brittany M.

BIO 371: Biological Practice and Research Internship