“My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.” (Psalm 62:1)

This summer I was so blessed to take a prayer pilgrimage, “The Jesus Trip”, as I call it. Alone with Jesus. 18 days. 3300 miles. No television, no streaming, no social media, no phone calls except to Mom. A Bible, journal, and camera. Extended, uninterrupted, unhurried time with the Lord.

• Enough time to let the dust settle.

• Enough safety to let go of the tiredness, grief, stress, and trauma of the past twelve months.

• Enough silence to hear that still, small, but oh so powerful voice.

• Enough solitude to rest on the foundations of the Cornerstone alone.

• Enough creation to focus me on the Creator.

• Enough kind people to assist me and cheer me all along the road.

The Jesus Trip strips away all the trappings of man’s answers and leaves me in the arms of God and God alone. It’s not a vacation. It’s not easy. But it’s worth it. It’s a struggle to respond as deep calls to deep. It can be very hard, very lonely, very raw, very tough to be laid bare. If we let Him, the Lord continually sweeps away our scaffolding, leaving us with nothing to lean on except Himself. And He is more than enough.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

I spent most of my time out in the wilderness, but in the Lord’s infinite wisdom, love, and hilarious orchestration, I ended the trip in a family, among friends (whom I had never met before), in a community of faith. Psalm 68:6 says, “God makes a home for the lonely” or literally, “God places the lonely in families”. In an area where few people claim to follow Christ, the Lord placed me in a family of wonderful friends who love Jesus and loved on me.

As I journeyed and prayed, God poured out pages upon pages into my journal.

• Whispers

• Truths

• Remembering

• Questions

• Challenges

• Reassurance

• Celebration

• Training

• Strengthening

• Praise

• Gratitude

Those 18 days passed in a flash, but I’ll be unpacking this list for the next several decades…

I have learned that for me, because of what I do and how God leads me, this is not a luxury. This is as necessary to me as oxygen. From time to time, I need to pull away from the “muchness and manyness” (as Richard Foster calls it) to:

• Clear my mind

• Sort my heart

• Reexamine my priorities

• Refill my tank

• Hear fresh words

• Prepare for what lies ahead

• Renew my strength

Could you use any of this? I realize most people cannot pull away for 18 days (and most people would not want to!), but perhaps you would be rested and refilled by an hour (for a Bible study or other input) or six hours (for a Day of Refreshing) or a weekend (for a Refocus and Refuel Retreat or other soul care). My hope and prayer is to extend a sip—or a cup—of the renewal that only comes from time spent with Jesus. What a joy to link arms with others hungry for the Lord. Come join us for your own Jesus Trip.

Grace and peace,

Linda