What happens when you can’t be alone with your own mind?

Welcome to a new series of conversations with John Mark and friends about following Jesus out of the overwhelming noise of modern life and into the silent, still presence of the God of peace. In this conversation, John Mark and John Ortberg—a pastor and seasoned guide on spiritual formation—explore how the practices of solitude and Scripture support us in facing the ultimate challenge of life: managing our own minds. The conversation is followed by a time of question and response.

This episode is from the Into the Quiet Experience in San Francisco, California, in Fall 2026.

If you’d like to continue exploring what it means to build a life with God in solitude, we have two invitations for you. First, John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. Second, you can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to Ruth from Dallas, Texas; James from Johnston, Iowa; Christian from Aurora, Oregon; Paul from Hiawassee, Georgia; Maddy from Lubbock, Texas. Thank you all very much.

If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous. 

Mentioned in this conversation:

• Mihaly Csikszentmihaly
• Dallas Willard
• Edmund Husserl
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Mark Noll

What transformation waits for you in the quiet place?

In this final teaching in our series on the ancient practice of solitude, John Mark shares the ultimate purpose of solitude: an encounter with God that uncovers our identity and reveals our calling.

If you’d like to continue exploring what it means to build a life with God in solitude, we have two invitations for you. First, John Mark’s newest book, Into the Quiet, is now available for preorder at intothequietexperience.com/preorder. Second, you can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com/.

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Ronnie from McKinney, Texas; Jim from Fort Collins, Colorado; Amanda from Millcreek, Utah; Nic from Dallas, Texas; and Tabitha from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thank you all very much.

If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous.

Mentioned in this teaching:

• Mark 1:32-39
• Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence by Ruth Haley Barton
• Order your copy of the Solitude Companion Guide at practicingtheway.org/solitude.

Why does solitude sometimes feel less like rest and more like a battlefield?

In this teaching on the ancient practice of solitude, John Mark reveals what Jesus and the desert fathers and mothers knew: we don't always go into the quiet place to flee the noise of our lives, but to fight the enemies of our souls.

If you’d like to continue exploring what it means to build a life with God in solitude, we have two invitations for you. First, John Mark’s newest book, Into the Quiet, is now available for preorder at .intothequietexperience.com/preorder. Second, you can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.

This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Rosalia from Trabuco Canyon, California; Hannah from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, United Kingdom; Eric from Tomball, Texas; Nancy from Edgewood, Washington; and Christian from Fairhope, Alabama. Thank you all very much.

If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous.

Mentioned in this teaching:

• Matthew 4:1-11
• Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons by Evagrius Ponticus
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
• "Christ in the Wilderness," painting by Moretto da Brescia
• Order your copy of the Solitude Companion Guide at practicingtheway.org/solitude.