The Need to Retreat

Sometimes you don't realize just HOW badly you need to retreat until you go on one. That's me! I went on a retreat this past weekend with my youth group and it was exactly what I needed in every single way! The music, the food, the people, the message - all of it was just too perfect! 

So we talked about "being filled" this weekend. Being filled with God's love and with scripture so that you may be rooted in him and seek out his pleasing about perfect will. I was really excited to go on this retreat because I have been struggling these past few months with my relationship with God. I have just felt stagnant, like I have no motivation to make a change, no matter how bad I want to. This was really becoming a problem and was starting to stress me out, big time.

On this retreat we talked about many things that have to do with being filled but the main one I got out of it was that I am able to let go of everything and give it to God. I feel like this is something that I skip over oh so much and don't even realize it. I wanted a step by step manual to get out of my fandom and because I wasn't getting an, "Okay Catherine: Step 1. Blah blah blah Step 2. Dab dah dah . . ." I was getting super frustrated and with that frustration came anger and control and sadness and stress and bitterness. All of these unwanted evils were filling my heart and were preventing me from growing any closer to God. But this retreat, and this weekend was a perfect reminder in every way that God is in control and if he cares about the birds in the trees he sure cares about me.

I also had tons of fun this weekend with my youth group. I got to hang out with my girls Olive, Rach, and Ems all weekend (which was good because we needed some serious real talk time) and we had so much fun!

 I also met some of the COOLEST JMU students while on retreat! They were our worship band this weekend and not only led us in some amazing worship, they were also so much fun to hang out with and talk to! They are seriously some of the most genuine people I have ever met! I miss them all ready and they kind of make me want to go to JMU (kind of is key)! 

Also, please just check out this amazingly adorable photo of Olive and Cole!

Sometimes a retreat is just good for your soul. Whether you just need to get away or you really need some spiritual guidance, retreats are nessecary to perform well in everyday life! I don't know what my life would be like without retreats!