Life-giving rest is a vital part of extended, quality time alone with God. Without it, we often fall into the trap of trying to accomplish a lot, or we may become overly self-focused and introspective. Neither of these are fruitful, because both attitudes result in putting our eyes on ourselves rather than on Jesus. We have a God who calls us to “be still, and know that I am God” and tells his people “in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 30:15).
Here are a few ideas for a restful break during a retreat. Use one of these between activities or in the middle of an activity if you find your energy starting to lag. Do it with a thankful heart turned toward God. We have a Good Father who gives his children rest and joy as gifts (Psalm 127:2, John 15:11).
- Go for a short walk
- Sit in the sun (or in the shade if it’s summer)
- Watch the clouds, look at the beauty of plants or other things God has made
- Listen to the birds
- Do something artistic – color, draw, do a craft, etc.
- Take a mini nap (setting a gentle timer can be helpful so that you don’t have to look at the clock)
- Listen to a praise song
- Take a tea or snack break
- Get up, move around, move to a new spot to sit