Lent: A Focus on Sacrifice and Suffering

For some, this winter has been brutal! Not from heavy snowfall or horrible road conditions, but from sickness, loss, challenges that may have caused those going through these conditions to feel as if they were going through a time of suffering. I know for this pastor it has come close to that definition! I have found that it is only by the grace of God and His love that got me through it as I watched the faces of anguished nurses trying to get my wife to respond to their commands and finally ushering me out of the room and escorting me to the waiting room.

As we enter the time of Lent, "...a time of spiritual renewal and reflection in preparation for observing Good Friday, the death of Jesus, and celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus" (Crosswalk.com), depending upon your own set of circumstances, one might be well advised to ask the question, "What do I need to do for my own 'spiritual renewal'? If you're at all like most of us, the only time we are closest to God is when we are going through challenging times, because we are constantly calling on God to deliver us or change our situation.

This year, why not make the first move and reach out to God and tell him we want to renew our walk with him and experience him we never have before. "What was it like fasting for 40 days Jesus? Were you suffering in hunger and thirst during that time? Was it a struggle?" As we begin to relate with Jesus during his time in the wilderness, maybe our time of struggle will begin to take on new meaning and dimension. 

Walking into Lent this year, let's really lean in to see what suffering and sacrifice is from Jesus' viewpoint and what were the conclusions with benefits Jesus experienced. Maybe then Lent will take on a whole new meaning and experience to us!

by Pastor Mike Adams