The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 781 | John Mark Comer Goes to the Desert, Clarifies Where He Stands, and Deep Dives on a Major Challenge for Modern Discipleship
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Jan 27, 2026 
John Mark Comer, author and teacher known for Practicing the Way, recounts a 21-day silent desert retreat and what deep solitude taught him. He tackles how noise and distraction undermine discipleship. He clarifies his theological stance, reflects on pastoral transitions, and explores why quieter, historical practices are drawing people back to faith.
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Noise Hijacks The Body And Soul
- Modern noise triggers our body's threat response and drives chronic fight-or-flight.
- That physiological state undermines discipleship because it makes self-sacrificial love nearly impossible.
21 Days In The Desert
- John Mark Comer spent 21 days in a desert-style retreat with no devices, minimal coffee, no exercise, and intense morning therapy.
- The experience was one of the most difficult of his life and stripped away all his usual coping props.
Solitude Is Absence Of Distraction
- Solitude differs from aloneness because true solitude requires the absence of distraction.
- Even introverts can fail at solitude when they bring books, work, or other props to distract themselves.
