A Time of Refreshing
I asked Kim to join me because I was an official delegate at the Pacific Union Conference Constituency Meeting, which was followed by the Pastors’ and Families’ Retreat at the same place. We spent August 16 to 19, 2026, in Palm Springs.
Anyone who has visited Palm Springs in the summer knows how intense the heat can get. Most people avoid going outside or planning long activities when the sun is so strong. Even a few minutes outdoors makes you crave relief.
Palm Springs is also a beautiful and popular place. The deep-green golf courses, tall palm trees, and waterfalls really stand out against the dry desert landscape. Since we first started staying at WorldMark Indio, I’ve often been amazed by all the greenery and the nice neighborhoods in the area. With so little visible water, how does all this lushness survive?
I didn’t understand this until one of our speakers wrapped up the retreat. Palm Springs is actually an oasis. Beneath the desert lies a huge underground aquifer, a massive reservoir that supports life above. One writer compared it to a giant sponge that has slowly collected water from mountain snow and stored it in layers of sand, gravel, and rock. So it makes sense that there’s plenty of water, even though the surface looks so dry.
That’s why it’s so important for pastors and their families to take regular, intentional breaks. Like all Christian pilgrims, we can get tired too, and we need time to pause, breathe, reconnect, and be refreshed.
Jesus invites us, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). That was exactly what I needed. When I stepped away from my usual routines and ministry demands, spent time with other pastors and their families, and listened to practical and inspiring messages, I truly felt my spirit renewed.
It was definitely a time of renewal and a reminder of God’s promise that He would "satisfy the soul of the weary and refresh the soul that is sorrowful" (Jeremiah 31:25).
Even in the driest places, God can create an oasis. We just need to pause long enough to take it in.
-Pastor Lim
