I love going to retreats even though I don’t like all the aspects of a retreat. As an introvert, meeting new people, being forced to start conversations, standing awkwardly observing, and stepping into the unknown is very uncomfortable. And it hasn’t gotten any easier after going to retreats of all types for nearly 50 years.

And yet I still go.

I go because I and millions of people over hundreds of years have coupled going on retreat with an invitation to meet God in a new and refreshing ways. In fact, I expect to meet God, in the challenging, stretching, and laborious activities that come along with being on retreat. I have learned that if I can embrace the difficult aspects of being there – I can experience God in ways that comfort does not afford.

Unfortunately, we do not have the same expectation when we think about going to another place that presents some of the same hard, burdensome, or demanding opportunities: WORK. Since the Enlightenment, work has yoked humans to the idea that we are separated from God at work. We can meet with Him before or after, but He isn’t available during work hours, leaving us with foes to fight not circumstances for our formation.

But God is there.

I challenge you to begin to change your expectations this week. Every time you hit a wall, experience conflict, run into trouble use that moment to connect with God. Come up with a simple prayer of your own that acknowledges His nearness and your desire to experience Him.