Why Solitude Should Come Before Your Next Plan, Goal, or Decision

Have you ever stayed up way too late trying to get one last thing done... only to realize later that your "brilliant" plan wasn't quite as brilliant as you thought?

Friend, been there.

Not long ago, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table after midnight trying to throw together a fun Christmas game for our Sunday school class. My husband and I had both accidentally fallen asleep while putting kids to bed (because parenting is glamorous like that 😉), and suddenly it was 1:00 a.m. and we still needed a game for the next morning.

I found a list of Christian Christmas songs online, had ChatGPT organize them, printed everything out, cut up all the song titles, and called it good.

The next day? Total chaos.

Half the songs were duplicates because contemporary versions and traditional versions had both made the list. People kept drawing songs we'd already done. We were scrambling to make it work on the fly.

Was it the end of the world? Not even close.

But it reminded me of something important:

When we're exhausted, overwhelmed, and operating from a place of urgency, we don't always make our best decisions.

And if we're honest, that's exactly how many of us approach life.

We rush to make decisions.

We create plans.

We build routines.

We set goals.

We try to figure everything out before we've taken time to slow down and hear from God.

We promise ourselves this will finally be the year we get our food habits, body image, exercise routine, or life together.

But what if we're skipping an important first step?

What if the most faithful thing you could do before planning your 2026 goals is to stop planning for a moment?

Why Christian Goal Setting Should Begin with Solitude

If you're anything like the women I work with, the end of the year often brings a mix of excitement and pressure.

You want to grow.

You want to be healthier.

You want freedom from obsessing about food.

You want to stop spending hours thinking about your body.

You want to become the woman God created you to be.

Those are beautiful desires.

But somewhere along the way, many Christian women unintentionally begin treating goal setting as a form of control.

We create meal plans.

We create workout plans.

We create life plans.

And then we hand them to God and say, "Okay Lord, bless this."

Whaaaat if we've got that backwards?

What if God wants our presence before He gives us a plan?

Before you start mapping out your year, Scripture offers a powerful invitation:

Slow down.

Be still.

Listen.

Jesus Consistently Withdrew Before Major Moments

One thing that struck me while studying Scripture is how often Jesus intentionally stepped away from the noise.

Not after burnout.

Not after a breakdown.

Not after exhaustion.

Before.

That's an important distinction.

Solitude wasn't Jesus' recovery strategy.

It was His discernment strategy.

Luke 5:15-16 tells us:

"But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray."

Think about that for a moment.

The crowds were waiting.

People needed Him.

There was work to be done.

And yet Jesus withdrew.

He stepped away from the demands.

He prioritized time with the Father.

Mark 1:35 says:

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."

Now listen, if you're a tired mom reading this while reheating your coffee for the third time today, you may not love the "while it was still dark" part. I get it.

But the principle remains.

Jesus intentionally created space to hear from God before engaging with everything else demanding His attention.

Friend, when was the last time you did that?

Not to check a box.

Not because you "should."

But because you genuinely wanted to hear from God before deciding what comes next.

Biblical Solitude Helps You Hear God's Voice Over Your Inner Critic

Let's be honest.

Most of us aren't struggling with a lack of voices in our heads.

We're struggling with too many.

You should lose weight.

You should eat cleaner.

You should exercise more.

You should be more productive.

You should have better self-control.

You should look different.

You should do more.

Sound familiar?

For women struggling with food freedom and body image, those messages can become deafening.

And while solitude doesn't magically make those thoughts disappear, it does something powerful:

It lowers the volume enough for truth to become audible again.

The Whisper Matters More Than the Noise

One of my favorite passages is found in 1 Kings 19.

Elijah experiences wind.

An earthquake.

A fire.

But Scripture tells us the Lord wasn't in any of those dramatic displays.

Instead, God spoke through a gentle whisper.

How often are we looking for clarity in the loudest places?

The newest diet.

The latest health trend.

The most productive planner.

The perfect morning routine.

Meanwhile, God may be waiting for us to simply be quiet long enough to hear Him.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us:

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Notice it doesn't say:

"Be productive."

"Be perfect."

"Be impressive."

"Be in control."

Just be still.

That's hard for Type A women.

Trust me, I know.

But sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is stop striving long enough to listen.

Seeking God's Will Before Making Your Plans

Can I lovingly call something out?

Sometimes we approach God like He's our executive assistant.

We walk into prayer with a fully developed plan and say:

"Here's what I want to accomplish this year. Please bless it."

Ouch.

I've done it too.

But throughout Scripture, we see a different pattern.

God often provides clarity after His people spend time in His presence.

Not before.

Moses and the Tent of Meeting

In Exodus 33, Moses regularly met with God in the Tent of Meeting.

Notice where it was located.

Outside the camp.

Away from the noise.

Away from distractions.

Away from everyone else.

Moses intentionally stepped away to hear from God.

And from those encounters came wisdom, direction, and leadership.

Jesus in Gethsemane

Before the crucifixion, Jesus withdrew again.

Matthew 26 records His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane:

"My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

What a powerful example.

Jesus brought His desires honestly before the Father.

But He surrendered the outcome.

Can you imagine approaching your 2026 goals that way?

Instead of:

"God, bless my plans."

What if you prayed:

"God, show me Your plans."

Instead of:

"Help me finally fix my body."

What if you prayed:

"Help me steward my body faithfully."

Instead of:

"Help me control everything."

What if you prayed:

"Help me trust You."

That's a very different posture.

Why Solitude Is Essential for Food Freedom and Body Image Healing

This matters deeply for women healing their relationship with food.

Because here's the reality:

Many recovery plans are actually disguised attempts at control.

Even when they sound spiritual.

Even when they include Bible verses.

Even when they're wrapped in Christian language.

If our plans aren't rooted in God's presence, they can quickly become another version of striving.

Another attempt to fix ourselves.

Another effort to earn peace.

Another way to manage fear.

Friend, food freedom isn't found through tighter control.

It's found through deeper trust.

And trust grows in relationship.

Relationship grows through time together.

That's why solitude matters.

Not because it's another task on your to-do list.

Not because it's a spiritual performance.

But because it's where intimacy with God develops.

And intimacy changes everything.

Solitude Is Not Avoidance—It's Alignment

Now maybe you're thinking:

"Brittany, I don't have time for solitude."

I hear you.

You're managing work.

Kids.

Sports schedules.

Laundry.

Meals.

Appointments.

Life.

The calendar isn't exactly empty.

But hear me when I say this:

Solitude is not avoidance.

It's alignment.

Think about the old story of two men chopping down trees.

One man worked nonstop.

The other periodically stopped to sharpen his axe.

Guess who finished first?

The man who paused.

Not because he was lazy.

Because he was prepared.

Sometimes stepping away is the most productive thing you can do.

Not because productivity is the goal.

But because perspective matters.

When you spend time with God, He sharpens your focus.

He realigns your priorities.

He reminds you who you are.

He helps you distinguish His voice from your fears.

A Simple Practice for Seeking God's Direction

Before you grab your planner.

Before you create a vision board.

Before you set your health goals.

Try this first.

Spend 10-15 minutes alone with the Lord.

Ask Him:

• What do You want me to focus on this year?
• Where am I striving instead of trusting?
• What am I trying to control that I need to surrender?
• What would faithfulness look like in this season?
• Who are You inviting me to become?

Then listen.

Not for perfection.

Not for an audible voice.

But for His gentle leading.

Because throughout Scripture, presence precedes clarity.

Final Encouragement: Faithfulness Over Perfection in 2026

Friend, you do not need a perfect plan for 2026.

You do not need a better diet.

You do not need another set of food rules.

You do not need a color-coded strategy for fixing yourself.

What you need most is God's presence.

The women who experience lasting freedom aren't the ones with the most impressive plans.

They're the ones learning to walk closely with Jesus.

So before you set your goals, resolutions, food rules, or recovery plans this year, sit with Him first.

Not to earn clarity.

Not to prove your faithfulness.

Not to get everything right.

But simply to listen.

Because the same Jesus who withdrew to pray before major moments is inviting you to do the same.

And friend?

That's a pretty good place to start.

Continue Your Food Freedom Journey

If you're ready to pursue a more peaceful, Christ-centered relationship with food and your body, I'd love to support you.

🎙 Subscribe to the Faith-Filled Food Freedom Podcast

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Food Freedom & Body Image Support for Christian Women

And as always, friend...

Keep chasing joy and choosing freedom.