We begin our Lenten journey not in a parade, but in a wilderness. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was "led by the Spirit" into the ...
We begin our Lenten journey not in a parade, but in a wilderness. The Gospel tells us that Jesus was "led by the Spirit" into the desert. This tells us something vital: sometimes the difficult seasons of our lives are not a sign of God’s absence, but a sign of His leading. The desert is a place of Testing, stripped of every distraction, every comfort, and every "prop" we use to support our ego.
In the hunger and the heat, the enemy comes with three shortcuts. "Turn stones into bread"—satisfy your physical cravings now. "Throw yourself down"—force God to prove He loves you. "Worship me"—take the easy path to power. These aren't just Jesus' temptations; they are ours. How often do we trade our soul for comfort? How often do we demand that God do our will?
Jesus answers every temptation with a profound Trust. "One does not live by bread alone." He shows us that our deepest hunger is not for food, but for the Word of God. He shows us that true Triumph is not found in avoiding suffering, but in surrendering to the Father's plan.
This Lent is your desert. It is the time to ask yourself: "What am I leaning on that isn't God?" Is it my bank account? My reputation? My "busyness"? In the silence of these forty days, God wants to whisper to your heart. He wants to show you that He is enough.
Don't be afraid of the hunger you feel this Lent—whether it's a hunger for a habit you've given up or a hunger for meaning in your life. That hunger is a gift. it is the space where God can finally move in. When we stop trying to fill our lives with "stones," we find the Bread of Life. Walk into the desert today with courage. You are not alone; the Spirit who led you in is the same Spirit who will lead you out, transformed and ready for the Resurrection.
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