“If you don’t come apart for a while, you will come apart after a while” - Dallas Willard
“Hey, how’ve you been?”
“Good. Staying busy!”
Sound like a common conversation you hear or have in daily conversation? Busyness has become like a state of being. It’s how we measure productivity and success. And if productivity and success is what determines our worth - how busy we are can unknowingly impact our sense of worth. As disciples of Jesus we must ask ourselves, “Is productivity and busy-ness forming who I am more than the ways of Jesus? What practices of Jesus can help teach and form me in the ways he promises will give my soul rest? (Matthew 11: 28-30)
This is a maxim we shared with participants at a recent retreat in Southeast Asia. As disciples we want to follow and obey Jesus in all areas of life: this includes mission, evangelism, hospitality, teaching, healing, peace-making, as well as retreat and rest. The intention and practice of retreat is to focus on imitating Jesus by resting with God in extended time of silence and solitude.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often went away - sometimes with just a few disciples, and often by himself - to retreat from his work and ministry to be with the Father. After feeding the 5000 and sending everyone home, Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray (Matthew 14:23). When the disciples return from ministry, Jesus invites them to go off to a quiet place to rest (Mark 6:31). As followers of Jesus, we are invited to imitate him in the same ways.
But who has time for a retreat? It can seem like a luxury. There are far more important things - things that we legitimately cannot step away from - job, family, kids, commitments at church. There’s no time. We’re too busy. At the same time, stress, anxiety, loneliness, overstimulation, and exhaustion tend to be what dominate our interior heart experiences.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15
We cannot draw water from a dry well. As disciples of Jesus, whether we are in full time ministry or not, it is important to take time to imitate Jesus in going away to be in solitude and silence with God.
Ruth Haley Barton writes, “Retreat in the context of spiritual life is an extended time apart for the purpose of being with God and giving God our full and undivided attention.” We may be used to staff retreats that are really just extended times of work, or even youth retreats where days are filled with constant fun activities. In this kind of retreat however, the invitation is to be unproductive and rest - paying attention to what bubbles to the surface and allowing ourselves to take it to God in prayer. Agenda is not the goal of retreat, but simply the opportunity to waste time with God.
It’s like car maintenance. In order for our vehicles to last many years, it’s important to have a regular rhythm of oil changes. If not, it will do major damage to the vehicle. The same is true with our souls. Having a regular rhythm or discipline of retreat allows us to sit with God and reflect and replenish our souls. Weekly Sabbath can be one example of a miniature retreat. In addition to Sabbath, longer periods of time away are helpful for retreat - anywhere from three days to a week once or twice a year.
Furthermore, Emilie Griffin reminds us that retreat is not just for our own benefit, but also the benefit of those around us: “Whatever the spiritual benefits of our retreat time, we must always remember that these blessings are not only for ourselves but for the sake of the communities we belong to-our families, circles of friendship, our churches, society at large. The experience of God pours loving energy into us, qualifies us to serve others with charm and delight.”
So what does it look like to practically plan and prepare for a retreat?
A simple first step to retreat is to plan one day away. Mark a day or several hours in your calendar where you can have some extended time of solitude. If possible 8 hours is a great place to start, but you can adjust time based on what is doable for your schedule. Think about places and spaces where you feel connected to God, and spend time there. Click here for a Spiritual Pathways assessment if helpful.
Look into Christian retreat centers in your region. Many offer guided retreats and housing and food, or you can schedule a private retreat based on your availability. Many retreat centers also have spiritual directors who can meet with you during your time. In addition to planning ahead, it’s helpful to keep a few things in mind while on a retreat.
A retreat is an important spiritual discipline in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Even more, it is an invitation - an invitation from God himself to rest, receive, replenish, and be restored. Download our free planning guide below, or check out our free prayer guides to see some simple prayer practices you can refer to while on retreat. We also have retreat templates that you can use individually or with your community.
Have an idea for a retreat? We’d love to help you craft a custom retreat for your context. Contact us at [email protected]
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