Rule of Life

Solitude 03: Encountering Our Self with Bethany Allen

Sep 28, 2023

Pastor of spiritual formation, Bethany Allen, joins John Mark Comer and Bryan Rouanzoin to discuss the transformative power of solitude, the beauty of stillness, and the importance of bringing our whole selves before God for healing and reflection. They explore the impact of solitude on personal growth, the concept of inner peace, and the healing of pain through prayer.

51:57

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Episode guests

Bethany Allen

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Quick takeaways

Success in solitude comes from bringing our whole selves, including negative emotions, to God for transformation and healing.

In solitude, it is important to face our pain and bring it to God, allowing Him to work in us for growth and liberation.

Deep dives

Bringing your whole self to God facilitates transformation and healing

Bringing your whole self, including negative emotions, to God allows Him to tell the whole story of your life and brings an opportunity for transformation and healing. Encounter with God is the purpose, and true change occurs when we bring to Him the areas that need transformation. Success in solitude is simply the act of continuing to show up and be present with God, even when it doesn't feel profound or transformative.

Encountering God in the Midst of Pain and Wounding

00:47

The Fear and Importance of Solitude

01:20

Slow work converting to Christian Zen and finding inner peace

00:31

The Importance of Distance in Relationships

01:34

Introduction

2min

Encountering Oneself in Solitude

6min

Encountering Oneself and God in Solitude

23min

The Transformative Power of Solitude

14min

Acquiring Inner Peace and the Spiritual Journey

6min

Healing Pain Through Prayer and Embracing True Selves

3min

Solitude is a place of encounter, where we confront the reality of who we are before God. There are so many voices, including our own false selves, that we use to curate who we are. But in solitude, we encounter our true selves — created and loved by God. And we are free to bring all of our selves before God for healing, prayer, and reflection.

In episode 2 of the Solitude season, John Mark Comer and Bryan Rouanzoin interview Bethany Allen. Bethany Allen is the pastor of spiritual formation and leadership development at Bridgetown Church in downtown Portland. She has a deep passion to see women defined by who they were created to be: image-bearers of God. Compelled by her affection for the Scriptures and her desire to be an effective learner in order to be an effective teacher, Bethany works hard counseling women, developing curriculum, and planning alongside Bridgetown’s pastoral team. A southern belle by birth, Bethany moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2007. She earned a Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry with a focus in Pastoral Care to Women from Western Seminary in 2011.

This podcast accompanies the Solitude Practice, developed by Practicing the Way. Thanks to the generosity of The Circle, all our resources are free. To learn more about The Circle or to run a Practice with your church, community, or small group, visit practicingtheway.org.

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Rule of Life

Solitude 03: Encountering Our Self with Bethany Allen

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Bringing your whole self to God facilitates transformation and healing

The importance of facing negative emotions and pain in solitude

Success in solitude is not about immediate transformation

Honesty with God in solitude

Encountering God in the Midst of Pain and Wounding

The Fear and Importance of Solitude

Slow work converting to Christian Zen and finding inner peace

The Importance of Distance in Relationships

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts