Every Christian should make time for a retreat. Retreats help to rejuvenate a person spiritually, mentally, and sometimes even physically. Think you’re too busy for a retreat? Even Jesus went away sometimes. He “retreated” from the people He loved and His ministry in order to pray and reflect. He asked His disciples to do so, too. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them,’Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (Mark 6:31). His word speaks to us in every age and so modern day disciples must also take time out of their busy lives to “retreat”.
We all get worn out by life. Battling day after day wears us down. We need to get off of the battlefield sometimes and simply let the Lord love and renew us. For those discerning big decisions, such as what vocation or career to pursue, a retreat is a time to earnestly seek the Lord. Going on retreat allows you to get away from all the competing “noises” in your life to hear the Lord more clearly. Get out of the small picture of your daily life in order to evaluate the whole picture.
There are many benefits to taking a retreat. Retreats allow you to deepen your relationship with God, give you the opportunity to set aside your responsibilities for a time, and allows you to solely focus on God’s love for you. As human beings, there is a limit to how much we can give; we are not Energizer bunnies! Retreats allow us to be filled up again and recharged, to go back into our daily lives with more strength. On some retreats, you’ll be able to meet other Christians and forge new friendships. Numerous are the people who have built strong, lasting friendships with those they have met on retreat.
If you’re trying to figure out how to spend your summer, I’d strongly encourage taking some time for a retreat. If you think you’re too busy for a retreat, I venture that is an even stronger reason that you need a retreat. For the weary, the discerning, and those wanting to grow closer to the Lord, a retreat may be just what you need in order to provide balance and clarity to your life.
