I don’t even know how to fully put this retreat into words yet.

Some trips are fun. Some trips are beautiful. Some trips make good content for the blog.

And then there are trips where God meets you so personally that you know you’ll still be unpacking it months later.

That’s what the No More Dry Ground Retreat in St. George, Utah felt like for me.

When I signed up for the retreat, I expected beautiful scenery, meaningful Bible studies, and the opportunity to meet other Christian women. What I didn't realize was how deeply God would use the week to refresh my spirit, challenge my heart, and remind me once again that He often does His greatest work in the wilderness.

For five days, 17 women from different backgrounds and different seasons of life gathered together in southern Utah. We worshiped, prayed, laughed, cried, shared meals, soaked in hot tubs beneath the stars, explored God's creation, and watched Him meet each woman exactly where she was.

As someone who spends this season of life traveling, camping, and seeking God in the quiet places of creation, this retreat felt like a beautiful reminder that the wilderness isn't just a place we pass through. Sometimes it's exactly where God invites us to draw closer to Him.

Getting to Utah was an adventure before the retreat even began.

My flight left Memphis around 3:00 PM, and by the time I reached my layover, I learned my connecting flight to Las Vegas had been delayed by three hours. After finally boarding close to 1:00 AM, I landed in Vegas around 2:00 in the morning, waited for a hotel shuttle until nearly 3:30 AM, grabbed a few hours of sleep, and then headed right back to the airport for a two-hour shuttle ride to St. George.

By the time I arrived, I was running on fumes & very little sleep.

And maybe that was fitting because the whole theme of the retreat felt like God saying, “You don’t have to keep striving. You can rest. You can receive. You can let Me pour into you this time.”

When I got to the resort, check-in wasn’t until 5 PM and there wasn’t really anywhere to hang out without wristbands yet, so another gal named Kris and I ended up Ubering to a nearby golf course restaurant where we spent the afternoon talking over soda floats. She ordered a traditional root beer float while I tried a berry soda float that tasted like summer in a glass.

It seemed like such a simple encounter at the time, but looking back, I can see God was already beginning to weave together friendships before the retreat had officially started.

By the end of the week, those strangers would feel more like sisters.

When check-in finally arrived, we headed to the retreat house where all seventeen women would stay together.

The house was stunning. Three stories tall with beautiful gathering spaces, patios, game rooms, a giant kitchen, outdoor fireplaces, a hot tub, and enough room for everyone to spread out while still staying connected.

As beautiful as it was, I couldn't help but smile because it reminded me how much of a country girl I really am. The homes were close together, and while it was perfect for fellowship, I still found myself missing wide open spaces, trees, lakes, and the quiet solitude I often find while traveling.

Yet for this particular week, the close quarters were exactly what God intended.

Michelle & Tarryn were so thoughtful about every detail of our stay. Upon exploring our rooms, each person had a "No More Dry Ground" bag on our beds that were personalized with each of our names. The bags had an exclusive hat, yummy fresh ground coffee by Redemption Road Coffee, a Turkish towel and a cute box of dark chocolates...Yum!

Relationships grew quickly.

Walls came down quickly.

And conversations went far deeper than small talk.

That first evening we shared dinner together of hamburger salad bowls loaded with fresh toppings and then gathered for worship and our opening Bible lesson.

The theme was simple:

Receiving Without Striving.

The entire message felt like an invitation to breathe again.

No striving.

No performing.

No proving.

No hustling.

Just receiving from God.

As women shared what they felt the Lord was speaking, similar images kept surfacing—a butterfly migration, a tree planted by water, a clear path through the wilderness, peaceful rest in the middle of a storm, and the words, "It's your turn to rest."

One woman shared the heartbreaking story of her son who had been missing for over four years and was recently confirmed deceased. Another shared how years of ministry and survival mode had hardened parts of her heart, and she felt God inviting her to soften again and truly rest.

As prayers were offered and tears flowed, I sensed God speaking the same thing to many of us:

"You don't have to carry everything anymore."

Later that evening we gathered beneath the desert sky in the hot tub, talking, laughing, praying, and simply enjoying fellowship.

I had only slept about four hours total in almost two days… but I still didn’t want the evening to end.

Eventually I crawled into bed and slept like an absolute baby.

The next morning began with one of the best retreat breakfasts spreads—scrambled eggs, bacon, chicken sausage, seasoned hash browns, yogurt with fresh berries, granola, coffee, and tea.

The retreat hosts, Michelle & Tarryn spoiled us all week with incredible homemade meals and thoughtful details.

The teaching that day centered around one of my favorite themes:

Meeting God in the Wilderness.

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly meets His people in wilderness seasons.

Elijah under the broom tree.

Jesus during His forty days of fasting.

The lost sheep.

Hosea.

The Samaritan woman at the well.

Again and again we saw that wilderness seasons aren't punishment.

They're preparation.

Sometimes God removes comfort so we can finally hear His voice clearly.

One statement that stayed with me was:

"Authority grows where comfort is stripped away."

As someone who has spent the last few months stepping out in faith, living on the road, tent camping, traveling alone, and trusting God for each next step, that message resonated deeply.

The wilderness often feels uncomfortable while we're in it.

But it's also where God teaches us to depend on Him.

Lunch was homemade chicken salad with fresh fruits, vegetables, crackers, hummus, homemade dressings and all kinds of healthy options.

The retreat leaders truly served everyone with so much love and intentionality.

Later that afternoon, we studied Hosea and Gomer and talked about God's relentless pursuit of His people.

One truth continued surfacing throughout the retreat:

God still pursues us even when we feel unworthy.

We talked about how easy it is to pursue success, security, relationships, money, dreams, and ministry opportunities while neglecting the very Presence of God.

One statement especially impacted me:

"I don't want the promise if it doesn't include His Presence."

That simple sentence carried so much truth.

The greatest blessing isn't what God gives us.

The greatest blessing is God Himself.

One aspect of the retreat that I looked forward to was the opportunity to discuss business, social media, and ministry.

During free time, we learned practical strategies for sharing our message online and building businesses that align with our faith and calling.

As someone building Sharla's Wanderlust Adventures, I soaked up every bit of wisdom I could.

I love learning.

I love creativity.

And I love seeing how God uses ordinary women to impact others through their unique gifts and experiences.

The conversations left me encouraged, inspired, and full of ideas for the future.

That evening after dinner we walked to a local frozen yogurt shop called Peachwave owned by a woman who had attended a previous No More Dry Ground retreat.

It was such a cool reminder of how these retreats continue creating ripple effects long after they end.

We walked back to the house, gathered for more worship and prayer, spent time in the hot tub again, and headed to bed completely full spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Wednesday brought some of the deepest healing moments of the entire retreat.

After our full spread breakfast again, the morning's teaching focused on Peter's restoration after denying Jesus.

He meets us in the exact place of our failure.

The same charcoal fire that represented Peter's greatest failure became the place where Jesus restored him.

What a beautiful picture of redemption.

God doesn't avoid our broken places.

He walks directly into them.

Again and again, we talked about identity, intimacy, receiving love, replacing lies with truth, and living from God's presence rather than performance.

Later, we participated in a prophetic art exercise hosted by Raven where each woman painted her wilderness journey while inviting God to reveal truth over the lies she had believed.

The room filled with images of rivers, deserts, butterflies, streams, trees, lions, crosses, gold, wedding veils, and fire.

But perhaps the most powerful part wasn't the artwork.

It was the stories.

Women bravely shared testimonies involving grief, abuse, shame, perfectionism, fear, broken relationships, spiritual warfare, loss, and identity struggles.

Yet over every story, God's redemption continued shining through.

The words that surfaced repeatedly throughout the day were:

Beloved.

Seen.

Worthy.

Daughter.

Bride.

Loved.

Dinner that night was BBQ chicken bowls loaded with toppings.

We all chatted and fellowshipped.

For some gals who wanted to get some further biz training, during dinner, our cohost from Austrailia, Tarrin spent time talking business strategy and helping us brainstorm ways to monetize our passions and callings while keeping Christ at the center.

I was able to talk through ideas for:

email marketing

growing my brand

monetizing content

expanding Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures

building community

future retreats and travel goals

I left feeling incredibly encouraged and inspired.

That evening became the most powerful night of the retreat.

After dinner, we gathered together and spent time praying over each woman individually.

When it was my turn, the women prayed over my travels, my safety, future ministry opportunities, business growth, direction, and even my dream of eventually owning a skoolie camper.

After everyone prayed over me, one woman felt compelled to bravely open up about years of shame surrounding an abortion her parents had pressured her into.

Another woman shared her own testimony involving domestic abuse and abortion.

The room became heavy with grief… but even heavier with compassion, mercy, and healing.

We surrounded them in prayer, speaking truth against shame and spiritual oppression.

One woman gently told her:

“Picture yourself rescuing your younger self from that hospital bed.”

There wasn’t condemnation in that moment. It was one of the most beautiful examples of Christ's love I have ever witnessed.

No condemnation.

No judgment.

Only grace.

Only compassion.

Only healing.

Only the love of Jesus.

Then something unexpected happened.

The two women chose to be baptized right there in the hot tub.

Under the desert sky.

Surrounded by sisters.

Wrapped in prayer.

I'll never forget it.

It was one of the most raw, holy, beautiful moments I’ve witnessed.

We ended the night worshipping to the songs, “God, I’m Just Grateful” by Elevation Worship & Chandler Moore and “Available” by Elevation Worship.

It was so anointing to worship in the Spirit.

There are moments where heaven feels incredibly close.

That night felt like one of them.

Thursday was adventure day.

We started the morning with fresh smoothies before spending the entire day exploring the breathtaking beauty of Zion.

Some of the girls explored The Narrows while others wandered scenic overlooks, trails, gift shops, and little hidden spots around the park.

We spent the day exploring Zion National Park, one of the most breathtaking places I've ever visited.

Towering canyon walls stretched toward the sky.

Red rock cliffs glowed in the sunlight.

Water flowed through the valleys below.

Every direction felt like a reminder of God's creativity and power.

There's something about standing in a place like Zion that reminds you how small you are and yet how deeply loved you remain by the Creator who formed it all. As always, God's creation spoke loudly.

On our way back down the mountain, we grabbed ice cream, explored local shops, laughed nonstop, took pictures together, and simply enjoyed being present.

Back at the house we had taco soup with all the fixings before ending the evening once again with worship and prayer in the hot tub.

None of us really wanted the retreat to end.

As I look back on the week, I keep returning to one simple truth:

God still meets people in the wilderness.

He still heals.

He still restores.

He still speaks.

He still pursues weary hearts.

And He still turns dry places into places overflowing with living water.

For me, this retreat felt like a gentle invitation from the Lord to step away from striving, busyness, and constant motion and simply sit with Him again.

To remember that His presence is enough.

To remember that the wilderness is often where intimacy grows deepest.

And to remember that no matter how dry life may feel at times, there is always Living Water available for those willing to draw near.

This retreat wasn't just a getaway.

It was a return to the well.

Friday morning arrived much too quickly.

We shared one final breakfast, exchanged contact information, took group photos, hugged goodbye, and slowly began heading home.

What amazed me most was how quickly strangers became sisters.

Women from different states.

Different backgrounds.

Different ages.

Different stories.

All united by a shared hunger for God.

It was bittersweet leaving.

But the best part?

I already booked the NEXT No More Dry Ground retreat in Australia.

And honestly… I cannot wait.

It will be my second international trip since separating from the military, and I’m so excited to continue growing closer to the Lord while connecting with another incredible group of No More Dry Ground women. Won't you join me?

One of the things I appreciated most about No More Dry Ground is that it isn't simply a retreat company. It's a Christ-centered community designed to help women grow deeper in their relationship with God while discovering clarity and purpose for what He has called them to steward. Whether that's a business, ministry, creative calling, leadership role, or simply learning to hear God's voice more clearly, their heart is to help women move from striving to living from the overflow of God's presence.

In addition to hosting retreats around the world, No More Dry Ground also offers a faith-based mastermind community, networking events for Christian women, business mentoring, leadership coaching, and opportunities to connect with other Kingdom-minded women who desire to build their lives and businesses with God at the center. Their focus isn't simply on strategy or success—it's on learning to seek God's direction first and then taking action from that place of intimacy with Him.

If you'd like to learn more about the heart behind No More Dry Ground, I highly encourage you to watch Tarryn Raquel's introduction video as she provides a brief intro on all of what No More Dry Ground has to offer.

You can learn more about upcoming retreats, networking events, and their online community at No More Dry Ground.

✨ Grace, adventure, and faith along the journey

Sharla – Sharla’s Wanderlust Adventures

Don’t forget — go somewhere new, heal the way God designed, and glorify Him in the journey.