In the face of impossible demands, Jesus needed to withdraw regularly to find strength and guidance from his Father. This practice was all the more essential in light of the power he possessed and the mission he was committed to fulfill: to preach the good news of the kingdom of God and then inaugurate it through is death and resurrection.
Because Jesus was faithful to that mission, we can now follow his example without the pressure to do everything perfectly. Through faith in Jesus’ finished work, we can find refuge as beloved sons and daughters, already accepted and delighted in by the Father. We can say no to some of the expectations of others (and even our own!), knowing that his judgment of us is all that matters. And by practicing the discipline of solitary prayer, we can learn to discern God’s particular priorities for our lives, trusting that whatever he asks us to do, he will provide the time, energy and resources to do it.
