Defensive Retreat

“He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Reread verse 13a:

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬a ESV‬‬

This week, let’s consider the value of a defensive personal retreat—those sacred moments when we step away to preserve our emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being.

After Jesus received the devastating news of His cousin John’s death, He didn’t push through the crowd or distract Himself with busyness. He withdrew. He went to a quiet place, alone. The Gospels don’t spell out what Jesus was feeling, but we can imagine: sorrow, grief, righteous anger, or a deep ache. Whatever it was, Jesus knew what He needed—time with the Father.

Have you ever felt like that? Overwhelmed by emotion, heavy in spirit, needing space to process and pray?

Don’t resist the urge to pull away. That desire to retreat might be the Spirit’s invitation to pause and reconnect with the One who holds you together.

Take time today to do a heart check:

• What’s happening in your inner world?

• What emotions are surfacing?

• Do you need a moment—or a day—to step away?

A defensive retreat isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. Jesus modeled it for us.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for showing us that it’s okay to step away. Help us recognize when our soul needs rest and realignment. Lead us to those quiet places where we can hear Your voice clearly and be renewed in Your presence. Amen.