As we enter the season of Lent, we are invited into a sacred rhythm that has shaped the life of the Christian Church for centuries. Lent is not simply a countdown to Easter, nor is it a religious obligation meant to burden us. Rather, Lent is a season of preparation; a purposeful slowing down of our lives so that our hearts may be made ready to encounter Christ more deeply in His suffering, His death, and ultimately, His resurrection.

Lent begins with honesty and provides an opportunity for a new understanding, so that we can encounter Christ differently. It acknowledges that we live in a broken world and that we ourselves are broken people in need of grace. For forty days, echoing Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, the Church sets aside time for reflection, repentance, prayer, and renewal. These days are meant to create space, space to listen more carefully to God, to examine our lives with humility, and to realign our priorities with the heart of Christ.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is not distant from our human experience. In Hebrews 2:18 we read, “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” This verse draws us directly into the heart of Lent. Jesus does not save us from afar; He saves us by entering fully into our condition. He knows hunger, loneliness, weakness, sorrow, and temptation…not in theory, but in lived experience. He therefore is the wonderful Counselor referred to in Isaiah 9:6; He knows what He’s talking about. And thus, Lent gives us permission to bring our real struggles before God, trusting that Christ understands them and meets us there.

Practices such as fasting from food or technology, prayer, and self-denial are not ends in themselves. They are tools that help strip away distractions and false securities so that we may see more clearly what truly sustains us. When we fast, we remember our dependence on God. When we pray, we open ourselves to His presence. When we practice generosity and reconciliation, we allow His love to reshape our relationships.

Lent also challenges us to move beyond routine faith. Many of us know Holy Week and Easter well. Since Sunday School, we may know the story, the hymns, the traditions. Yet familiarity can dull the wonder. Lent gently interrupts that pattern. It asks us to slow down before we rush to the empty tomb. It encourages us to walk with Jesus through the wilderness, through Bethany, through Gethsemane, and finally to the cross - so that Easter joy is not assumed, but truly received.

This season invites intention. What might God be calling you to lay down during these weeks? What habit, distraction, or fear has taken root in your life? And just as importantly, what might God be inviting you to take up? More time in prayer, deeper engagement with Scripture, acts of quiet service, or moments of stillness in a noisy world? To guide a deeper dive into Scripture, for our small groups, I encourage you to consider discussing The Chosen – Season 5 during this time of Lent. This particular season of episodes, now available in our Small Group library, begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry on Palm Sunday and ends with The Last Supper in the upper room. The discussions would definitely be timely and could enhance your preparations.

So, as we journey through Lent together, we do so with hope. The road leads to the cross, but it does not end there. Christ walks this path with us, strengthening us in our weakness and meeting us in our temptations. By approaching this season thoughtfully and prayerfully, we prepare our hearts to encounter Holy Week and Easter not as events on a calendar, but as life-changing realities. May this Lent be a season where Christ draws near, where reflection deepens faith, and where Easter is greeted not out of habit, but with renewed awe and joy for His victory, and… renewed hope for His ultimate return, when we shall see Him face to face.