Lent - A Season of Renewal
by Linda Nedilsky, member of Manassas Baptist Church
When temptations become habits that aren't healthy for us, Lent offers a gentle but powerful way to hit the reset button. Growing up, dessert after dinner was non-negotiable in our house. As a picky eater, my mom would bribe me with sweets to finish my meal—and over time, that created a deep pattern in my brain: "You need dessert after dinner." It's been my lifelong battle—obsessive patterns that repeat, commitments that sometimes last for years, only to slip back. I've finally accepted this is just part of being human: we're born with imperfections, wired in ways that make us vulnerable to habits that don't serve us well.
But this isn't failure. I've never truly given up; I just recognize I need a reset. For me, that reset isn't January 1—it's Lent. Why?
Because Lent aligns so beautifully with what our Lord Jesus did for us. He stepped into the wilderness, faced temptation head-on, and sacrificed everything out of love. In this season, we don't pretend to be perfect or try to prove ourselves worthy of God's love through sheer willpower.
Instead, we humbly acknowledge our weaknesses and ask for His strength to carry us through. I'm not Catholic, but I deeply honor the purpose of Lent: a 40-day journey of reflection, self-denial, prayer, and renewal that prepares our hearts for Easter.
It's not about earning grace—grace is God's free gift, poured out through Christ's sacrifice. As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
When I am weak, then I am strong—because it's His strength, not mine, that sustains me
This year, I'm giving up my favorites—chocolate, ice cream, and pudding—for the full stretch (no breaks, even on Sundays, because my ASD brain thrives on all-or-nothing commitment).
It's not to punish myself or become "good enough," but to create space: space to feel the pull of old habits, space to turn to God in those moments, space for His grace to fill what I've laid down.
Lent reminds me that we're all dust, yet deeply loved; frail, yet being made whole in Christ's hands. It's an invitation to surrender our patterns to Him, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for the One who loves us perfectly in our imperfection.
If you're joining in Lent in your own way—whether giving something up, taking something on, or simply drawing closer through prayer—may it be a season of true renewal for you. His grace is enough. Easter is coming, and with it, the promise of resurrection and new life.