Do not Despair

The season of Lent is the training that sets us up for the rest of the year.

I saw a comment today from a writer who was lamenting the fact that his efforts for Lent are falling away. He started off with very big intentions but has realised that perhaps he has bitten off a little more than he can chew.

It’s easy to find yourself in that situation, I’ve been there a number of times. Lent is a preparation for Easter, but it’s also a preparation for the entire liturgical year. The writer in question used the example of preseason training in football, and I think that’s an excellent way of looking at it, (I can’t find his article unfortunately).

The season of Lent sets us up for our spiritual progression in the coming year. As regards stumbling and falling away, I like this quote from Pope St. Gregory the Great:

Have confidence in the compassion of our Creator. Reflect well on what you are now doing, and keep before you the things you have done. Lift up your eyes to the overflowing compassion of heaven, and while He waits for you, draw near in tears to our merciful Judge. Having before your mind that He is a Just Judge, do not take your sins lightly; and having also in mind that He is compassionate, do not despair. The God-Man gives man confidence before God.

Despair is of the devil. Discouragement can lead to despair. Despair shows a lack of faith in God. In His plan for each one of us.

I have had some days that are better than others this Lent, which is no different from any other year. I have days when I hit it out of the park, and I have days where I don’t do so well at all. This Lent, however, my base line average seems to be not that bad. What I try not to do is to let the bad days negatively impact the other days. A bad day is a bad day; hunker down and do the best that you can. But when the storm passes and the sun comes out, don’t make the mistake of continuing to agonise over what has already been and gone.

So take heart, fellow Christians. The season of Lent is here, and even if you have not followed a single day up to this point, this is the day where you can still begin and thus turn things around. Have faith and glory to our God in heaven.