2016 Belmont University Lenten GuideSample

When I think of the time of Lent, the first thing that comes to mind is sacrifice and giving something up. Whether it is some kind of food or media, I have often joined into the season and tradition of sacrifice for forty days. Along with this idea of giving something up tends to be a sense of anxiety or fear. Will I be able to succeed for that length of time? Or will I fail? We know that fear is not from God, so if I am fearful then I am probably not relying on God for strength or trusting that He will sustain me through it. And what is the purpose of giving something up during this time of Lent? Is it just to join in or is it with the desire to subtract a distraction from our lives in order to focus on God during that time—leading up to the gratefulness we have for the crucifixion and resurrection? I encourage you to know your own motivation during this season. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” How often have you seen this verse but not taken it to heart, not let those words wash over you and give you hope and strength? God asks us to be strong and wait because He has promised to deliver us and be with us in our struggles. It may not be the solution we imagine or the timeline we prefer, but God does answer and He is right there with us. However, as humans we tend not to be the best at waiting because we are an instant gratification species. Lent is a time when we can take advantage of this season of waiting through our struggles and let God be our main focus. Give Him the opportunity to spend uninterrupted time with us because rather than just seeking out a solution to our current problems, we can just seek Him and His presence. After all the waiting and seeking, we can look forward with hope that we too will hear the words that God says to Abram in Genesis 15, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” ROBIN MCCORD University Ministries Assistant Office of University Ministries