I began Lent with good intentions and a clear plan. I had reached a tipping point with my health and felt strongly that this season was an invitation to make some difficult but necessary changes. I prepared nourishing meals, cleared my schedule where I could, and resolved to be disciplined and focused.
As the Lenten season began, things went well. I felt encouraged. I had more peace, more time to pray. I thought, I can do this.
When Life Disrupts Our Best Efforts
And then life happened.
A couple of my children got sick. Others needed extra help with activities and school projects. I was needed elsewhere, and my carefully laid plans began to unravel. The meals I had prepared were gone, my time disappeared, and the “grab-and-go” choices I had hoped to avoid became unavoidable. Frustration set in quickly, followed by discouragement and that familiar inner voice telling me I had already failed.
If I’m honest, this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. I’ve had many seasons—especially at the beginning of a new year—when strong resolutions fizzle out after just a few weeks. The pattern is familiar: high expectations, little flexibility, and an unspoken belief that success depends entirely on my own effort.
As this happened again during Lent, I realized something important. When I strive and rely almost solely on myself, I leave very little room for God’s grace and strength to sustain me, especially when things don't go according to plan.
Choosing Grace Over Perfection
As we mark the midway point of Lent, maybe this resonates with you. The first half of Lent has come and gone, and resolutions may already feel broken. Perhaps you missed a fast, lost your temper, abandoned your prayer commitment, or found yourself doing the very thing you promised you’d give up.
Instead of spiraling into negative self-talk and discouragement, let’s make a conscious decision not to let shame or perfectionism control our Lenten journey. From now until Holy Saturday, let’s invite Jesus—not our willpower—to be our guide.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight” (Proverbs 3:5).
Whenever we try to grow—whether spiritually, emotionally, or physically—it takes time, patience, and perseverance. Lent is not about flawless execution; it is about faithfulness. God does not expect us to succeed perfectly. He asks us to keep showing up. Saint Teresa of Calcutta reminds us of this truth: “God doesn't ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful.”
When we cling too tightly to our plans (and to self-reliance), we often lose our peace the moment something goes wrong. But when we cling to Jesus instead, even our imperfect sacrifices can become acts of love and trust.
Returning to the Lord
So what do we do if our Lenten plans have fallen apart, if weariness has set in, or if discouragement has tempted us to quit altogether?
We return to the Lord.
Here are five Scripture verses (plus a bonus suggestion!) to pray when Lent feels heavy, or when we feel tempted to give up:
- “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still” (Exodus 14:14).
- “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing” (Joel 2:13).
- “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
- “Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
- “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
As a bonus, meditate on Jesus’ own journey to the Cross—especially the moments when He fell. Jesus, fully human, stumbled under the weight of suffering. He shows us that falling is not failure. What matters is rising again, trusting the Father, and continuing forward in love.
Next Steps When Lenten Plans Fall Apart
If Lent hasn’t gone the way you hoped, consider these gentle ways to begin again:
- Pause and pray before you revise your plan. // Instead of immediately tightening your resolve or giving up altogether, ask the Lord: What are You inviting me to right now? Sometimes the call is to simplify, not to push harder.
- Adjust your resolution with humility. // A modified sacrifice is not a failed one. God may be asking you to adapt your plans to the realities of your vocation, health, or family life.
- Let go of “all-or-nothing” thinking. // Missing a fast or prayer commitment does not negate everything you’ve done so far. Lent is a journey, not a scorecard.
- Return to the Sacraments. // Confession and the Eucharist are powerful places of renewal. They remind us that God’s grace always meets us where we are.
- Begin again—today. // Not next Monday or next week. Today is always a good day to turn back to the Lord.
When we persevere—imperfectly, humbly, and faithfully—we remain close to God’s will and open ourselves to transformation. And when Easter comes, we can celebrate not our own success, but what the Lord has done in us.
Sarah Damm is the blog manager and a writer for Blessed Is She. She also is a frequent contributor to other faith-based platforms. Residing in Minnesota with her husband and six children, Sarah was a stay-at-home mom for 21 years, until she returned to the workforce in 2023. Sarah enjoys attending her kids' volleyball, football, basketball, or baseball games (depending on the season). She loves her faith, coffee, walks with her husband, and good books. Read Sarah's posts here. You can find out more about her here.
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