Lent can be challenging. The thought of doing anything for forty days in a row, let alone penitential actions, can be overwhelming. As we are in the midst of Lent, I figured I would write a couple words of guidance and encouragement as we continue the hopeful journey to Easter.
The first thing I would like to say is as you examine the beginning of Lent, be honest with yourself. What did you set out to do for these forty days? Have you done them? Are there times that you have failed? If so, why? So often we can be dishonest with ourselves through making excuses or being over scrupulous. Try your best to be objective in how you are doing. This may take the form of talking to someone close to you who can observe you and give you an outside opinion.
Second: Examine why you are doing the things you are doing. Has your Lenten practice turned into a checklist? Has accomplishing what you set out to do become a source of pride? Were your motives incorrect to begin with? Everything we do in Lent is meant to draw us deeper into a relationship with God. We go into the desert with Jesus because that’s where He battled the Enemy. We don’t go into the battle to see if we can do what Jesus did. We go so that Jesus can fight the battle with us. Every extra prayer, sacrifice, and alm that is given is meant to be oriented to training our body and soul to receive the love of God and share that love with the world.
Third, don’t give up! I imagine most people fail in their Lenten resolve at about the same rate that the general population fails at their New Years Resolutions: around week two. But that is okay! A program fails when you mess up. However, a relationship can endure. The only time a relationship fails is when one side gives up. So if you have not done what you wanted to do this Lent, examine why and make adjustments. It’s okay to change what you are doing to make sure you are actually growing in love with God.
Fourth, do not get discouraged if you do not see results. Lent is a time of grace which is something that can never be measured. In God’s goodness, He gives us an abundance of grace if we are open to accepting it. Those graces may manifest themselves immediately through overcoming a certain sin, or they may be latent until years later when the habits we form help our older selves continue in righteousness. Trust that God has given you everything that you need.
Finally, as we continue on this journey, do not look ahead too much. Yes, have a healthy amount of hope for the resurrection, but be present in the season you are in. Jesus did not enter into time to fast forward to the end. He came into time to heal the present, the here and now. The only moment that we are in a relationship with God is the now, so let us not escape it.
Lent is challenging. It is meant to be. Nothing grows and develops in this world without some sort of sacrifice attached to it. The material world is a realm where we are meant to change and develop into the people that God created us to be. So we must embrace this moment, reset ourselves if necessary, and place our hope in the resurrection.