In a life that is so busy, we often forget to make time to retreat, to get away, to intentionally rest. We don’t make the time or we feel guilty because we think maybe we should be doing other things with our time. But I have learned I need retreat. Not just the Sunday afternoon naps, although those are very restful and needed, but also the intentional time with God, by myself, and with others. A happy balance of all those elements is so refreshing for my soul.

Throughout scripture, Jesus gets away to be by himself and with God. If Jesus saw the importance of that time, why don’t we also make that time a priority? In Mark 1:35, Jesus went to a solitary place to pray after a long day before of healing many people. He spent the night praying to God in Luke 6:12 before appointing the twelve apostles. After a long day of ministry and the miracle of feeding the 5000 in Matthew 14:22-23, Jesus spent time alone to pray. Even at the end of his earthly ministry, he knew he needed time alone with God in prayer. In Mark 14:32, Jesus took a few of his disciples along with him to pray in Gethsemane. We all need that time of prayer, refreshment of our soul.

When we first moved to Uganda, there was an annual missionary retreat I would attend in Kenya. The place was like peace on earth with delicious food, beautiful gardens, and a sense of peace the moment you drove through the gate. We would gather with various missionary women from across East Africa to get to know each other, worship together, encourage one another, and hear what God had to share with us on a personal level. We had time and space for prayer and listening to God, socializing, resting, and any other way we needed to be refreshed during the retreat. It was a special time, but since Covid, I have missed this retreat time. We have had other retreats, but they were usually short or packed schedules, so there wasn’t much time to just “be” with God. Too often, we prefer to be busy doing Godly stuff rather than just sit and be with God. I find myself wrestling with that, so I know I need to make the time to just “be” rather than “do”.

This past Fall, Leland and I had the honor of hosting our former university professor and mentor come to Uganda, and she offered to do a women’s retreat for us. I immediately said YES! And I began planning a very low-key retreat with times of bible study and worship, times of fellowship, but also plenty of time to just “be” with God in prayer, reflection and reading. I know this type of retreat may not be for everyone, but it is what my heart needs, and I have found that it is what many other people need if they allow themselves the space and time for it. I am a firm believer that retreats are needed by everyone, whether in full-time ministry or not. I still reflect on my retreat times, and seek opportunities to “be” with God. We all need our souls and hearts to be refreshed. I pray you take the time to retreat.