Solitude vs. Isolation

Can you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?

How about the difference between a mule and a donkey?

Do you know at what point a storm shifts from being a tropical depression to a tropical storm? When, then, does it become a hurricane?

Yes, all of the above questions have answers. You may know the answers off the top of your head, but even if you don’t, you can find them with a few keystrokes and a couple of clicks. Yet with any of these, at first glance, it can be hard to tell the difference.

That is also the case for two concepts I am writing about today. These practices are ones that, even if they resemble one another from the outside, are significantly different.

I am talking about the difference between solitude and isolation.

What’s the Difference?

From an outside perspective, the ideas of solitude and isolation may appear to be the same.  In fact, I would not blame you if you had trouble defining the difference between them. In practice, both solitude and isolation will probably result in you being alone, or at least, not interacting with others. Thus, it can be hard to distinguish one from the other.

The difference, however, is quite significant, even if it is challenging to see.

Solitude, properly understood, is a temporary time where you give yourself some space away from the chaos and activity of life. It is this practice of solitude that we see Jesus engage in regularly during his time of ministry (e.g. Luke 5:16). Through solitude, Jesus was able to remove distractions, connect with His Heavenly Father, and prepare for the next phase of ministry that was to come.

Isolation, however, is less like giving yourself space and more like giving up. When we choose to isolate ourselves we’re usually fleeing or hiding from someone or something. At times, we may not even recognize what we are fleeing from is an emotion inside us that we cannot escape. The desire to isolate may be driven by shame, pain, or even fear.

When these ideas are put into practice, we begin to see just how different they are.

The desire for solitude is a desire to disconnect and recharge.
The desire for isolation is a desire to run away and hide.The result of solitude is a renewed sense of desire and energy.
The result of isolation is a stronger desire to detach from others and abdicate responsibilities.Solitude allows you to connect more with God.
Isolation causes you to withdraw, even from God, and can lead to attacks from the enemy (see 1 Peter 5:8).Solitude is designed to be a natural part of the rhythm of life.
Isolation will leave you only wanting to isolate yourself more.A Matter of The Heart

Speaking from experience, it can be challenging to know which of these two I’m moving toward.

Naturally, I’m an introvert (much to the surprise of many). This doesn’t mean I’m anti-people, it just means being around people drains me rather than fills me up. Thus, there are times that I need to disconnect to recharge. I have learned that for me, this is normal and healthy.

However, as I’ve openly written about, I also deal with depression which thrives on isolation. Depression wants me to feel alone and disconnected from everyone else. This is unhealthy and not beneficial in any way.

The difference, for me, ultimately comes down to the disposition of my heart.

Am I trying to escape or recharge? Do I feel an urge to disconnect from others so I can breathe, or a desire to flee from everyone and everything? Sometimes I have to text or call a close friend to process what is going on inside me to help determine my internal motives.

While isolation and solitude look similar from the outside, I hope you can see the benefits of one and the dangers of the other. And, as you navigate these questions in your own life, I hope you can make choices that will lead you to solitude with the Father rather than isolation from everyone and everything you know and love.