Happy Sabbath, friends! Have you ever walked through a season that felt far heavier than you could carry? Maybe it was a person, an environment, or a situation that slowly drained your peace. If so, you are not alone. Even Jesus faced moments when the people around Him, the atmosphere He was in, or the intensity of the situation weighed on His spirit. And when those moments came, He chose something holy: He stepped into the Father’s light and away from the shadows that tried to overwhelm Him.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
John 8:12 NIV

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all… If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus… purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5–7 NIV

There are four moments in Scripture where Jesus faced emotional, spiritual, or physical pressure – and chose to step away so He could remain grounded in God’s peace.

1. After John the Baptist’s death
Jesus withdrew to grieve, pray, and breathe in the Father’s comfort.

2. After feeding the 5,000
The crowd tried to push their own agenda on Him, but Jesus removed Himself and turned His attention fully toward the Lord.

3. When the leaders tried to seize Him
Instead of remaining in a hostile environment, He withdrew across the Jordan to a quieter place.

4. When the crowds became overwhelming
The expectations, the noise, the pressure – Jesus responded by seeking solitude and prayer.

“After the people saw the sign Jesus performed… they intended to come and make him king by force, [but] Jesus… withdrew again to a mountain by himself.”
John 6:14–15 NIV

“Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp… Then Jesus went back across the Jordan… There he stayed.”
John 10:39–40 NIV

“Yet the news about him spread all the more… But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Luke 5:15–16 NIV

These stories remind us that stepping away during moments of emotional overload is not selfish – it’s sacred. Jesus shows us that distancing ourselves from a draining environment means little unless we step toward God in the process. The enemy wants us isolated, hidden, and disconnected. But the Lord invites us to retreat into His presence, where healing and clarity meet us.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1 NIV

“When you pray, go into your room, close the door… your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6 NIV

“Remain in me… No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine… apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:4–5 NIV

My prayer for each person reading this today is that, if you are carrying something heavy – a situation, a relationship, an environment – you would be reminded that God sees you, cares for you, and loves you deeply. When darkness presses close, He calls you to step into His light. And that step is a choice – a turning of the heart, even when your strength feels small.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord… He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:1–8 NIV

Amen.