Men’s Clarity Retreat

In life as men, we face relentless pressure and expectations. We’re told that more success, possessions, and achievements will fill us, fix us, and validate us. Even the good things we’re told to chase – success, better jobs, or impact – will overwhelm us. More isn’t always better!

We don’t need more busy, more hustle, more energy spent on things that don’t bring us true life. This relentless chase for more can actually diminish our hunger for Jesus—diminish our desire to seek His face, know His heart, and follow His Way.

What we actually need is less. Less pressure, less expectations, less performance, less shame, less distractions. That’s the truth that destroys the lie at the heart of the battle for our hearts, minds, and souls as men.

If an argument could be made for more of anything in our lives as men, I’d make it for more clarity. Clarity that brings Jesus into focus. Clarity brings wisdom, peace, patience, perspective, and the ability to see who God is and what He is doing in our lives. Clarity that silences the noise so we can hear His “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

Just as God met Adam in the Garden, Abraham when he walked away from everything he knew, Jacob in the dead of night, Joseph in the dungeon, Moses in the Tabernacle, David in the fields watching sheep, Daniel in his prayer room, Elijah on the mountainside, Zechariah in the holy of holies, Nathanael under the fig tree alone with his thoughts, and Jesus when He would sneak away from the crowds, noise, and distractions – He wants to meet us where we leave the crushing weight of “more” behind, and rest, wait, and seek Him, because sometimes we need less of everything else to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Imagine a mason jar filled with dirt, rocks, and sand. Add water, seal it, and shake it up. The water turns cloudy, impossible to see through. But set it down, let the sediment settle, and soon the water clears – you can see straight through. That’s what this retreat is designed to be: a time to step away, be still, let the upheaval (external and internal) settle at the feet of Jesus, and gain clarity. It’s the gift of vision for our lives as men – without it, we’re like the blind leading the blind (Luke 6:39).

As we prepare for this weekend, let’s draw from the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha was distracted by all the preparations and busyness, pulled in a million directions, finding her value in doing and accomplishing. But Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening and being present with Him – and Jesus said she had chosen what is better. As men, we often identify with Martha, defining ourselves by our capacity, achievements, and constant action. This retreat calls us to stop, to choose the better thing: settling at Jesus’ feet in stillness and surrender.