Retreat
Consistent retreat prevents defeat
There are three different occasions in Mark’s Gospel where he lets us know of Jesus getting away to pray. Retreating, if you will.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” - Mark 1:35 NIV
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside to pray.” - Mark 6:45-46 NIV
“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James, and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ He said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’
Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him. ‘Abba, Father,’ He said, ‘everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.’” - Mark 14:32-36 NIV
All of these times where Jesus retreated into solitude to pray occurred during very stressful and demanding times. In Mark chapter 1, Jesus healed and entire town of sick people. Cast out demons. Taught. In Mark chapter 6, Jesus was teaching, healing, and feeding over five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. In Mark chapter 14, Jesus is preparing to be crucified.
Yet…
In these situation, Jesus was always the conqueror and never the conquered. None of these moments ever got the better of Him. And I know, I know. He’s God. He’s perfect. He’s Jesus and we’re…not. Excuses.
Maybe, just maybe, the reason He wasn’t conquered even though He faced so much, and the reason we are conquered when facing so little (in comparison), is because He understood that consistent retreat prevents defeat.
And I don’t mean retreat as in running away from the fight. I mean retreating into God’s presence through prayer to get prepared and equipped for the fight. See, Jesus consistently made room for rest and retreat. He was adamant about getting away and being alone in prayer with God. Maybe it’s because Jesus also knew that…
Prayerful rest produces our natural best
You want to be the best man you can be? Get alone with God and pray.
You want to be the best woman you can be? Get alone with God and pray.
You want to be the best husband, wife, parent, friend, son or daughter, the best leader, boss, employee, etc? Than begin by getting away and getting alone with God. Retreating in His presence. Go to God. You and Him. And talk. No noise. No lists. No goals. Just you and your heavenly Father.
So, the glory of the getaway is as follows. In it, I actually receive all I need for whatever may come my way. The getaway makes me affective and ready for when I get back. It’s during the getaway that God can provide me the perspective, power, peace, clarity, and whatever else I may need for whatever lies ahead.
When I get alone with God in prayer, He gives me the inside preparation to handle the outside problems.
And that…is the glory of the getaway.
Reflect
How can you intentionally create space in your daily life to “retreat” into God’s presence, following Jesus’ example of prayerful solitude?
Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed or unprepared for a challenge. How might retreating into God’s presence have provided you with the perspective, peace, or strength you needed?
In what areas of your life do you most need to experience the “glory of the getaway”? What steps can you take this week to prioritize time alone with God?