“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” Mark 1:12✝️ Battling it out with temptation…. Being alone… facing uncertainty and despair may seem odd coming from God, but the truth is it is the place he can meet us.
When we picture our lives and then make choices to support that vision, it rarely includes the reality of what will happen. And yet the reality is where we are called to battle for that calling, even if we never envisioned these sorts of fights. It is in the tension we grow and find him… the hard part if if we have to learn to hold that tension well.
It feels rather universal that we are called to listen to our internal voice or follow our gut as a way to know right from wrong, act in truth, or even hear God’s direction. And yet, in this very specific season of Lent the design is to deny ourselves, do our best to live outside the limits of our humanity, by taking actions that may not be our first choice, but certainly a better choice. In my life experience I know this journey of not relying on self leads to good, growth and God – and yet I am still stumped by my lack of human ability – regularly. What is that? Aren’t we supposed to get better… stronger… closer to God. Shouldn’t we feel more comfortable in the uncomfortable? Why does choosing the right path still feel hard?
Lent comes each and every year – a reminder by our faith that we are going to have to return to this season and relearn it again and again. It is not broken, it is who we are and why God gives us a chance to reset and relearn. The return of the lesson is not that we are doing it wrong, it is that we are doing it human. Today’s reading is an example of how Jesus took on humanity even in the hard place if temptation. Proof we are not wrong, just human. And yet I have also been comforted by the fact that Lent does in fact return, but is also new each year as we are different. We have never had this exact Lent, as the person we are today – so of course we have to sort of relearn it…. Yet with our new perspective of where life has brought us now. God is in the details…. And knows what we need to learn.
This Lent that conversation with God has intrigued me: what can we do together this time? And here are some resources I have loved for that topic:
Father Toup’s Lent Guidance: these videos has been so gentle and inviting to join Jesus this lent.
Abiding Together Podcast: this episode talks about holding the tension of joy and sorrow and really spoke to me.
Thank you so much for reading and remember to make it a great day (and lent)!
Jackie
Have A Little Faith in We 