Why Jesus Invites Us to Come Away
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." — Mark 6:31
The Longing for More
There are seasons when life asks so much of us that we hardly notice how weary we've become. We move from one responsibility to the next, caring for those entrusted to us, tending our work, our homes, our ministries, and our relationships. Even our quiet moments can become filled with notifications, errands, and the subtle pressure to keep moving. Before long, we find ourselves longing for something we can't quite name—a little more space to breathe, a little more silence, a little more time to remember who we are in the presence of God.
Perhaps you've felt that longing, too. It often arrives as a quiet ache beneath the surface of our days. We may not have the words for it, but our souls recognize the invitation to slow down long before our minds are willing to listen.
Jesus' Invitation to Rest
Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus understood the rhythm of engagement and withdrawal. He taught the crowds, healed the sick, and walked faithfully with His disciples, yet He also slipped away to lonely places to pray. Time and again, He sought the quiet where He could commune with His Father. And when His disciples returned from a season of ministry, tired and carrying the weight of all they had experienced, Jesus didn't ask them to keep going. Instead, He offered a simple invitation: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
We find great comfort in those words. They remind us that rest is not something we earn once every task has been completed or every need has been met—It is something Jesus Himself invites us into. Rest is not an escape from our lives, nor is it a sign that we are falling behind. It is one of the ways God lovingly restores us so that we can return to our lives with renewed clarity, compassion, and presence.
Making Space to Notice
This is the heart behind Wild Sanctuary Retreats and especially our upcoming Wild Sanctuary Overnight Retreat.
When we gather for a retreat, we aren't trying to step away from the world because it is too much. Rather, we are creating intentional space to become more attentive to God's presence within it. Over the course of an October weekend, we will practice slowing down through gentle yoga, contemplative practices, prayer, play, nourishing meals, meaningful conversation, time in nature, and moments of quiet. None of these experiences are extraordinary on their own, but together they create room for something many of us deeply need: the opportunity to notice…
To notice the beauty of creation. To notice what has been stirring beneath the surface of our hearts. To notice the gentle voice of God that is so often drowned out by the pace of everyday life. And to rest in the unending, loving gaze of God.
When we step away long enough to remember what truly matters, we begin to breathe a little more deeply, laugh more freely, and realize the sacredness of every moment. We release the pressure to perform or produce, and instead discover the gift of simply being. We are reminded that our worth has never been found in our productivity, but in belonging to the One who calls us beloved.
An Invitation to Come Away
Our upcoming Wild Sanctuary Overnight Retreat is shaped around this hope: that you would experience God's presence not only in times of prayer, but also in movement, around the table, beneath the trees, in shared stories, and in the holy stillness that so often opens our hearts to our Creator. We believe that retreat is less about escaping life and more about returning to it with eyes that have been softened by grace.
If your soul has been longing for space to breathe, to listen, and to be gently renewed, we would love to welcome you to our upcoming Wild Sanctuary Overnight Retreat. Registration is open through September 6, and we'd be honored to share this sacred weekend with you.
You can learn more about the retreat, explore the full weekend itinerary, and register HERE!
Whether you join us this October, or simply carry this invitation into your own week, may you find moments to step away, breathe deeply, and remember that the God who calls you is already waiting in the quiet.