Pulling Back to Move Forward: A Mini-Retreat for a Busy Season
As I look ahead to the coming months, my calendar already feels full. Does yours too? We’ve made progress, but there’s still more to navigate. Ministry responsibilities, family gatherings, holidays, travel—and all the unseen details that hold them together—demand careful attention.
There are many moving parts, and I want to make sure that the most important ones don’t fall through the cracks. At the same time, I don’t want to simply get through the season. I want to give attention to what matters most—my walk with Christ, my family, and the ministry God has entrusted to me—without rushing past them.
Have you ever felt the same way? The pressure of all the urgent tasks, the fear of missing something, the temptation to run faster just to keep up? It’s in these very seasons that I have found a surprising truth: sometimes the most faithful way to move forward is to pull back. To pause before diving in.
That pause isn’t wasted—it’s the way God reorients us to His purposes so that we don’t live in survival mode but in abiding trust.
Jesus’ Invitation to Rest
One of my favorite passages for moments like this is found in Mark 6:30–32:
“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.”
Imagine the scene. Clearly, the disciples had been working hard, pouring themselves out in service. Needs pressed in from every side. I love the detail: “they had no leisure even to eat.” How many times has that happened to you?
Our natural instinct in these moments is to push harder, to keep up with the demand. Yet what does Jesus say? He didn’t encourage them to do more. Instead, He invited them to step back: “Come away … and rest a while.” Interesting. Maybe He’s on to something.
While I don’t want to overbuild a theology on this story, it makes me reflect: if Jesus, fully God and fully man, modeled this rhythm of rest in the midst of ministry, might there be wisdom for us in following His example?
Jesus’ invitation reminds us that stepping back is not wasted time but faithful obedience. Rest is not weakness—it’s trust in the One who carries the work. If He called His own disciples to pause, we too can resist the pressure of endless demands by resting in Him.
The Temptation of Survival Mode
Still, even knowing this, I often feel the pull of survival mode. For me, it sneaks in through the back door of fear and anxiety. I dread being overwhelmed—especially remembering past seasons with my daughter Anah, when I felt like I was in the pit…and I don’t want to go back there.
Ironically, the very fear of being overwhelmed often drives me to try to control everything myself. I switch into high gear, frantically managing all the details, forgetting that God is with me and has promised to help. My emotions, if I’m honest, are tangled, pulling me toward
Fear — What if I can’t handle it all?
Shame — I should be able to keep it together.
Grief — This isn’t how I imagined life would be.
When I pause long enough to name those emotions, I begin to see what’s really going on in my heart. The truth is, I’m often relying on myself more than on God. Yet in that moment, Jesus doesn’t scold me. Instead, He calls me back: “Come away with Me.”
This is where trust grows. I remind myself that God has proven Himself faithful in my life before. He has held the moving pieces when I couldn’t. He has cared for my family, my ministry, my undone tasks, in ways better than I ever could. His desire is not simply that I “get things done” but that I walk with Him in faith and gratitude.
This truth steadies me—but usually not in the middle of my frantic striving. It settles in when I step back from the swirl of tasks to be with Him. In that space, I gain a clearer vantage point, recall His promises, and rest in the deeper reality that “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You” (Isa. 26:3).
A Mini-Retreat: Pause, Look, Plan
Because pulling back doesn’t happen by accident, we need intentional pauses with the Lord. That’s why I want to invite you into a simple mini-retreat—a one- to two-hour pause to reset your heart in His presence. You don’t need to go far. Find a quiet corner, bring your Bible and journal, and use this time to reset your heart.
Here’s a guide you can follow:
1. Pause – Step away from the noise and be with the Lord.
Before reading Mark 6, take a moment to quiet your heart before God. You might begin with a short prayer, asking the Spirit to calm your anxious thoughts and draw you near. Open His Word with expectation, or recall a favorite verse or hymn that lifts your eyes to Christ. Begin gently, trusting that God meets you where you are, however this moment unfolds.
As you settle in, let’s listen to Jesus’ own words to His disciples in Mark 6:30–32, where He invites them—and us—to come away and rest with Him. Read this short passage a few times, looking at the context before and after. Jot down words or phrases that stand out, especially anything that shows Jesus’ heart for His disciples.
Then, if you wish, use the following questions to help you soak in these verses:
Reflect:
What does this show me about who Jesus is?
What does it reveal about the needs and limitations of His disciples (and me)?
If you have time, consider how this passages connects to other Scriptures.
Respond:
Write a short prayer of confession: Where do I resist Christ’s invitation to rest?
Thank Him for His care and provision in past seasons when He carried what I could not.
Ask for His Spirit’s help to rest in faith, not self-reliance.
Rest:
Take 2–5 minutes in quiet, focusing on God’s presence and His promises. Use this time to reflect on what Scripture has shown you, noting any insights or reminders from His Word. End by writing one sentence of truth to carry with you, such as: “Jesus calls me to come away and rest with Him.”
2. Look – Reflect on your current season, roles, and responsibilities.
Now, take a moment to bring what you just observed in Scripture into your own life. Notice the ways Jesus’ invitation to rest intersects with your current circumstances. You don’t need to answer every question—choose one or two that resonate most today. Let your reflections be honest and specific.
Reflect:
What do I need to release to the Lord’s care right now?
Where do I feel weary or stretched thin?
What Scripture or truth about God do I need to rest in?
What is bearing fruit in my life and ministry right now?
What feels urgent but may not be most important?
Where am I tempted to run in survival mode instead of abiding?
After journaling, pause and consider: what patterns or truths are emerging? What burdens am I holding that God never asked me to carry? What rhythms or priorities might need adjustment? Let these reflections guide you as you move into the next step—planning intentionally with God’s purposes in mind.
3. Plan – Align your priorities with God’s purposes.
Now that you’ve paused with Christ and reflected honestly on your current season, it’s time to take what you’ve learned and plan with intention. How can you plan your next steps in ministry, work, and family so they align with God’s purposes rather than the pressure of urgent tasks?
This isn’t about creating a perfect schedule or checking every box—it’s about asking, “What is most important to God, and how can I steward my time and energy to serve Him faithfully?”
Reflect and Pray:
What 2–3 most important things does God want me to focus on this season?
How can I ensure these things receive my best attention, rather than just what feels urgent?
What rhythms of rest, prayer, and family care will I build in proactively?
Journal Prompt:
Write down any adjustments you sense God is calling you to make—both in what you take on and what you let go.
Consider practical next steps. For example: scheduling weekly Sabbath rest, carving out focused work blocks, or planning intentional time with loved ones.
Step Forward in Faith:
As you plan, remind yourself: God sees the big picture, and His purposes are eternal. Your faithful steps in alignment with Him will bear fruit—no matter the chaos around you. Where you felt weariness or the temptation to rely on yourself, commit those areas to God’s care. Where you saw fruitful areas of ministry or family life, consider how to invest there with renewed energy.
Moving Forward with Rest
Pulling back to move forward isn’t about being unproductive. It’s about being purposeful. It’s about aligning with God’s pace instead of being driven by fear or urgency. As you enter this new season, I encourage you: don’t wait until you are overwhelmed to stop. Build in intentional pauses with the Lord now—daily, weekly, seasonally—so that your forward motion is fueled by His Spirit, not your striving.