Sometimes We Have to Make Sacrifices to Grow

Reported By: Ellaynah Brown

Illustrated By: Sydney Simmons

A season to reflect on God’s goodness and our dependence on Him, Lent is a time for followers to dive deeper in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Spanning the 40 days before Easter, Lent is a time of repentance in which believers choose to give something up until the Thursday before Easter Sunday. Whether that is fasting from certain foods or choosing to change habits in order to recognize our need for God, this time encourages reflection and growth.

Lent is observed by many denominations and in varying ways. Traditionally, in Catholicism, Lent is observed by abstaining from some food item or alcohol; for Protestants, it may be more common to give up a bad habit instead. Whatever one decides to abstain from, the goal is to remind ourselves as Christians that our satisfaction does not come from the world, but from the Creator.

The amazing thing about this season is that it is a completely intimate experience with yourself and God. Anyone who desires a deeper relationship can participate in this time. 

“Lent gives a deeper understanding of our need for God and loosens the grip things have on us,” said Campus Pastor Jamie Johnson. When we give up something we were once so dependent on, we are given the opportunity “to get to the root of why we engage in everyday things,” said Johnson. 

Are we scrolling through Instagram because it is a distraction that makes us feel good? Are we drinking caffeine because we have become reliant on the energy it gives? Are we snoozing our alarms five times before we get up because we are not nourishing our bodies with sleep as we should? When we become so habitual to certain behaviors, we become blind to the effects they have on our quality of life. It is only when we give up these behaviors that we recognize our reliance on them and revert our focus to God to satisfy our needs.

Like many, this year I have chosen to give up social media, as it has always been a weak point for me. Scrolling through and seeing everyone else live a manicured, happy life is way easier than trying to fix mine. As my time spent on social media consistently reflected this terrible addiction, I noticed many parts of my life lacking genuine joy. All of a sudden, I wasn’t feeling satisfied because I was striving for the life I saw online. I wasn’t sleeping because I spent my time comparing my life to “influencers” that made it their job to curate their lives to entertain the gaze of outsiders. I wasn’t reading my Bible because I found it easier to scroll than to turn the page.

I am not perfect, and if you haven’t noticed, no one is– that is why we need Jesus. Johnson urges those who are participating in Lent to have grace with themselves; changing habits is not easy, “our salvation is not dependent on how well we do at it,” he said. Additionally, Johnson reminds us that Lent is not some magical experience that will fix everything. It is going to be hard, but it will truly be worth it.

While there is no right or wrong thing to give up, an imperative part of this season is to replace our usual practice with more Jesus. For me, I have decided to replace social media with reading my Bible. It is important to acknowledge that we are not just trying to deprive ourselves of something, but to shift our loves and add something to our daily routine that is “spiritually formative” and draws us closer to God.