I ran away with God. Gave myself permission to retreat.
After so much of a lifetime spent running from, how sweet it was to simply be running to a place of quiet rest. Life is abundant these days with family, work, and friends – I am blessed. But at the end of a long season of busyness, I was weary. Needed to recharge.
I’d tried it once before. Planned to stay behind after a long weekend spent camping with friends. But it was cancelled due to the relentless sound of something chewing away inside the ceiling of our trailer – a carpenter ant invasion! Let’s just say the enemy doesn’t like it when we try to get away with God.
Fumigation and life happened. Work came round again. The window for retreat was gone.
But hunting season came and took hubby off in search of meat to fill the freezer, and I found myself between work gigs, with a mountain just half hour away.
Books and movies and French press were packed as the day of departure came once more. But guilt pressed in hard, as it loves to do when we’re about to do something worthwhile. And hubby was afraid of me being alone. We prayed, and God reached down.
That morning’s devotional read: “…Jesus took… them up on a high mountain apart by themselves…” (Mark 9:21)”. Guilt? Fear? Ants? Get thee behind me! I had Permission to retreat.
There atop a mountain I nested and rested, just a little nearer to God. It took three days for the edge to wear off. Then came a quiet rest. Refilling. And finally peace. It cost me almost nothing, this week away to commune. But oh, the Blessings gained.
May we receive the gift that’s offered – to be away and be still with God. Accept permission to retreat.
Amen.
Cease striving and know that I am God… ~ Psalm 46:10 NASB
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