THE GRACE TO DISAPPEAR
A Holy Call to Embrace the Quiet Life
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
—Luke 5:16 (NIV)
There’s a tender shift that happens as we age in Christ—not just in years, but in wisdom. Somewhere along the way, the applause starts to feel hollow. The spotlight fades in appeal. The platform becomes too heavy to hold. And something deep within begins to whisper, “Come away…”
It’s not burnout.
It’s not giving up.
It’s something sacred.
The world might label it disappearing.
But Heaven calls it drawing near.
We begin to understand why some choose the quiet life… why they stop explaining themselves… why they grow slow to answer and quick to weep… why they crave stillness more than stimulation. They’ve tasted the noise—and found it empty. They’ve seen behind the curtain of performance and long for the altar of Presence.
Some walk away from crowds not because they despise people—but because they’ve learned to treasure peace.
Some unplug from the noise not because they’re bitter—but because they’ve heard the whisper.
Some retreat not to hide—but to heal… to rest… to recover what the busy life stole from them.
This isn’t laziness.
It’s holy surrender.
Beloved, Jesus Himself often withdrew. He, too, needed the quiet place—the secret place. And if the Son of God slipped away to be with the Father, how much more should we?
There comes a moment when you stop needing to be seen, and you start needing to see Him.
A moment when the shallow no longer satisfies, and your soul aches for the deep.
A moment when disappearing from the crowd is the very place you reappear before the Lord.
Let them wonder where you went.
Let them think you’ve gone quiet.
But you know.
You’re in the cleft of the Rock.
Hidden in Christ.
Wrapped in stillness.
Held in Love.
This is the hidden life.
The beautiful, holy obscurity where the heart becomes tender again, the ears open again, and the tears flow again—not from pain, but from Presence. You receive a personal visit from a personal Christ. Why? Because you made room for Him.
Maybe you’re feeling that pull even now.
Maybe you’re ready to step away from what exhausts you, and step into what restores you.
You don’t have to explain it to everyone.
You don’t need a reason to rest.
The Shepherd calls you by name—and sometimes, He leads you into quiet pastures far from the crowd.
Don’t be afraid to go.
Don’t be afraid to disappear…
You’ll be found in the most beautiful place of all—hidden in Him, where silence sings and love is eternal.
With Love,
Steve Porter
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Powerful word “Hidden in Christ.”
Beautiful Word! Here's to Jesus and the quiet life He gives us.