The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg
Week 7: Chapter 6 — An Unhurried Life (The Practice of Solitude)
Read Chapter 6 of The Life You've Always Wanted. Key passages: Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Matthew 14:23.
Previewing Week 7 of The Life You've Always Wanted
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Solitude is perhaps the most countercultural discipline in the book — and Ortberg argues it is also one of the most essential, because it is where we meet God without distraction and discover who we really are.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Ortberg notes that Jesus consistently withdrew to solitary places to pray — even in the busiest seasons of his ministry. What does it tell us about Jesus' relationship with the Father that he needed these times of withdrawal? What does it tell us about our own need for solitude?
2.He observes that many people are deeply uncomfortable with silence and solitude — we fill every quiet moment with noise, screens, or activity. What does this discomfort reveal? What are we running from or afraid of?
3.Ortberg describes solitude not just as physical aloneness but as an inner quietness — a willingness to stop managing our image and simply be known by God. What is the difference between being alone and being in solitude in this deeper sense?
a.Have you ever experienced genuine solitude — not just aloneness but a real quieting before God? Describe what that was like.
b.What tends to prevent that kind of deep quiet in your life?