Lent: Feeling Our Feels
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalm 34:18, NLT)
As we’ve reflected on in previous devotions, the Lenten season is a time when introspection, repentance, and surrender are encouraged. It can be a time when we deliberately follow Jesus’ ministry, contemplating His sacrifice and the profound love that led Him to the cross. And while setting aside space to reflect, mourn, and praise the Lord sounds like a wonderful idea to most of us, real life can get in the way. We have gatherings to plan, to-do lists that just keep growing, meals to make, and kids to console. But what if, right in the midst of our normal, busy lives, we invite Jesus in and open ourselves up to the emotions Lent offers?
Just as Jesus willingly faced the weight of the world's sin, we enter into Lent when we acknowledge our fears, shortcomings, questions, and doubts, bringing them all to the only One who can bear our burden. When we feel our feelings, whatever they are, we make space for Lent to be a part of our everyday. Lent is not only a time of sacrifice, but it is also an opportunity for healing and renewal. When we feel the depth of our emotions, good, hard, and everything in between, we just might experience this season in a whole new way.
And perhaps, in the silence of Lent, you find echoes of grief, regret, uncertainty, or doubt. Embrace these emotions as sacred spaces for God to work. In acknowledging our feelings, we can find the transformative power of God's love. As we bring our true selves to Him, we find solace in His presence and the assurance that we are not alone on this Lenten journey. May this season be a time of emotional honesty and vulnerability before the One who understands our hearts. In the stillness, let your feelings be laid bare, and in surrender, trust that God's redemptive love will meet you where you are. This Lent, may we not rush past the depth of our emotions but instead, may we acknowledge and encounter the Lord in the midst of our every day.
Gracious God, in this season of Lent, we come before you with open hearts. Teach us the beauty of vulnerability and the strength found in acknowledging our feelings. May this Lenten journey be a sacred space for healing, renewal, and a deeper connection with You. Amen.
