Are you exhausted and burdened by life? Is there so much anxiety in your heart? Do you easily get discouraged and frustrated by life’s challenges? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you need to retreat. God doesn’t expect you to fight every battle. Sometimes, you’re just too injured to fight. In such instances, God wants you to retreat to leave the fight for another day
Retreating involves running to God for renewal of strength. Isaiah 40: 29-31 (ERV) says,“He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. But those who trust in the LORD will become strong again—like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.”
When you take out time to seek God for help, encouragement, wisdom, and strength, He refreshes you and restores your lost vitality. (Acts 3:19) reveals that times of refreshing exist when you repent (change the way you think) and enter in God’s presence.
In her book, “HEALING YOUR DEPRESSION,” Apostle L’Tanya C. Perry, MDiv. wrote, “In military terms, to retreat is to move away from the enemy after a defeat, but this is not the type of retreat I want to talk about here. Retreat, in this perspective, is a time when you decide to set apart for a worthwhile moment with God. You do not have to wait for defeat from depression to fall back to where comfort lies, which is the presence of God. The good news is God also is not clueless about the situation you are in (Hebrews 4:14-16 [NIV]) states, “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Rest in knowing that God has given us access if we turn to Him first in confidence, embracing His grace and mercy in our time of need.”
Elizabeth Clayton and Mary Keith in their article “to the depressed Christian” mentioned that “The ultimate friend we find in our pain is Jesus Himself. He wept for us. And on the cross, He experienced separation from God in its fullness. Our Savior knows what it means to suffer darkness. But when you are experiencing a mental health crisis and feeling isolated, it’s very easy to forget that God is literally within you. The Holy Spirit is the Presence of God Himself, living and active in the Life of everyone who trusts in Jesus.”[1]Also, Psalm 16:11 shows that joy and pleasures is available in God. This time should be a time of reflection, prayer and meditation of God’s words to cleanse the imprints of depression on you.”
It’s time to start practicing retreats where healing from the wounds of depression can begin. During retreats, expose your inward parts to God’s soothing and healing presence. Come face to face with the misaligned part of your life and ask God to have His way. It’s a time of mental, physical, and spiritual awakening for you.
Do you want to learn more about how to overcome depression and live a life full of laughter and fulfillment? Then get this life-transforming book, HEALING YOUR DEPRESSION by Apostle L’Tanya C. Perry, MDiv.
[1] https://www.cru.org/us/en/blog/life-and-relationships/emotions/to-the-depressed-christian.html