We are only a couple of days into Lent but we feel like we’d been trying to do this for weeks, right? It is hard to realize how dependent we are on some of our habits or sugar or something else we’re trying to stay away from. It really has been only a couple of days and we already feel like we’re fast approaching our limits. What to do now?

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. (1 Cor. 10:13, MSG,*)

The key here is not to try even more but to surrender more fully to God. We can’t but God can. God does give us more than we can bear on our own. But he does not give you more that you can bear with God. He will not let you be pushed past your limits and he will always be there to help you come through it. The Bible says so.

How can this help us with our fasting? It’s helpful to know that as long as we try to do everything on our own, we will be struggling. Because we can’t do fasting on our own. But with God’s help we can. We don’t have enough strength or self-control but with God we have everything we need.

It is good to admit to yourself and God that you are helpless without him. That gives you the right perspective on everything. And it’s also a very good thing to realize that God does not love you any less if you fail in your fasting. The reason why we fast is not to proove our worthiness but get closer to God. When we confess our failures and misgivings to God, we learn something new about God’s grace and his limitless love toward us.

Therefore, don’t lose heart. Just remember: the more you struggle, the closer to Jesus you need to get. That’s where you find the sweet spot in God’s arms. Right then and there you will be blessed without limits.

 

Gracious God,
I need you.
I can’t make it on my own.
Forgive me even thinking I could do it.
Here are my weaknesses,
my failures and misgivings.
Give me your strength,
your love and grace to continue.
Bless me indeed.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How is your Lenten journey going? Are you approaching your limits yet?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you lean on God as you continue your Lenten journey!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Image courtesy of creationswap.com, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Faith-filled Fridays, Five Minute Friday.