Slideshow image

Each year, the church enters a season that feels slower, quieter, and more searching than the rest. Before the lilies, before the trumpets, before the triumphant “He is risen,” there is Lent.

A Short History of Lent

The season of Lent has been observed by Christians for over 1,500 years. By the fourth century, the church had formalized a 40-day period of fasting and preparation leading up to Easter. The 40 days (not counting Sundays) echo biblical patterns:

  • Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8)
  • Moses’ 40 days on Sinai (Exodus 34)
  • Elijah’s 40-day journey (1 Kings 19)
  • Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the wilderness (Matthew 4)

Originally, Lent was especially a time of preparation for new believers who would be baptized at Easter. Over time, it became a season for the whole church—a period of repentance, prayer, fasting, generosity, and self-examination.

Lent began with Ash Wednesday, when we heard the sobering words, “Remember that you are dust.” It ends at the threshold of resurrection joy. The movement is intentional: from ashes to alleluias, from confession to celebration.

But the church, in her wisdom, does not rush that journey.

The Temptation to Skip Ahead

We are people who love Easter—and rightly so. Resurrection is our hope. But there is a temptation every year to hurry past Lent, to soften it, to treat it as a minor prelude to the “real” celebration.

Yet if we rush to Easter without walking through Lent, something important is lost.

Lent is the season when we slow down enough to let God search us. It is when we invite the Spirit to expose what we often keep hidden: pride, impatience, envy, distraction, self-reliance. Not to shame us—but to heal us.

The Spirit does not expose sin to condemn us. He exposes it so that we might turn again to grace.

If we avoid that exposing light, Easter becomes sentiment instead of salvation. But when we allow Lent to do its work, Easter becomes breathtaking.

Rooted, Growing, Fruitful — Even in Lent

At Living Hope, we speak of being Rooted, Growing, and Fruitful. Lent speaks to each of these.

Rooted
 Lent roots us again in the truth of who we are and who God is. We are dust—and deeply loved. We are sinners—and invited to grace. Like Psalm 1, Lent calls us to sink our roots deep into God’s Word and presence rather than into distraction and noise.

Growing
 Growth requires pruning. Jesus tells us that the Father prunes the branches so they may bear more fruit (John 15). Lent is pruning season. It is when God gently cuts away what is unhealthy so that something stronger can grow. Repentance is not regression—it is growth.

Fruitful
 True fruit does not come from pretending we are fine. It comes from abiding in Christ. As we confess, turn, and trust again, the Spirit produces new fruit in us—humility, patience, love, self-control. A fruitful Easter often depends on a faithful Lent.

A Pastoral Encouragement

So this year, do not run ahead.

Resist the urge to skip quickly to celebration. Stay in the wilderness long enough to listen. Sit with Scripture. Pray honestly. Fast from something that dulls your spiritual hunger. Ask the Spirit a courageous question:

“Lord, what in me needs to die so that Your life may grow?”

And when He answers—do not despair. Turn to grace. Again and again.

Because Lent is not about proving our devotion. It is about preparing our hearts.

When we allow Lent to do its exposing and purifying work, Easter does not feel like a holiday. It feels like resurrection.

May this be a season where we are more deeply Rooted in Christ, genuinely Growing in holiness, and increasingly Fruitful in love.

And when Easter morning comes, may our alleluias rise from hearts that have truly walked the path to the cross.