Author: admin

In the twelfth chapter of the book of Jeremiah, the young prophet complains to the Lord that he’s doing his work for God, but it’s not easy. And he isn’t seeing the changes that he was hoping to see.

I can sympathize with Jeremiah. Perhaps you can, as well. I try to obey God and do God’s will as best I can and as I understand it. But, sometimes I find it difficult. I get down on myself and God.

The world in which we live grinds down our faith, waters down our hope, takes the wind out of the sails of our love.
God’s answer to Jeremiah seems unsympathetic. “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?” (v. 5)

An old song said, “I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden.”

Jesus doesn’t promise his disciples that everything will come up roses. There will be thorns in the garden and rainy days. Jesus calls us to “hang in there” and promises that he will be with us (Mt. 28:20).

Lent is a time to shore up our faith, to turn our eyes upon Jesus, to be rejuvenated for a “long obedience in the same direction.”* Lent is not simply about giving up something like smoking or chocolate or alcohol or social media or what-not, though that may be a good thing. Lent is about turning our eyes upon Jesus, stiffening the backbone of our faith, reminding ourselves of the importance of our discipleship even when nothing seems to change.

God essentially said to Jeremiah, “If you think things are tough now, how will you hold up when things really get hard? How will you be in the race for the long run?”

Lent prepares us to run the tough race and not give up. Lenten practices remind us that following Jesus takes some stamina, some endurance, some perseverance. Scripture says that we are to throw off the sin and the things that weigh us down and run the race set before us with steadfastness of faith. The secret to staying on course for the long run is looking to Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2).

Discipleship is about “a long obedience in the same direction.”

Lent helps us to remember to stay in the race. Paul said that he wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t look back on his failures. Instead, he pressed on toward the goal to which God was calling him.” The secret was keeping his eyes on the prize of Jesus the Christ (Phil. 3:13-14).

Discipleship is an upward and onward calling. Jesus never made false promises about smooth sailing. But he promises to be in the boat with us in stormy seas (Mk. 4:35-41).

Lent is a time for establishing or re-establishing habits that will carry us through the inevitable hardships and tests that come with being a disciple, of running the race with horses, of practicing “a long obedience in the same direction.”

*Frederick Nietzsche wrote: “The essential thing in heaven and earth is . . . that there should be long obedience in the same direction; [which] has always resulted in the long run, in something which has made life worth living.”