--- title: Lenten Effort Over Lenten Success description: Kelly Guest considers how God receives our struggles to sacrifice during Lent. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0311-KGuest-f.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/03/11/lenten-effort-over-lenten-success/#) # Lenten Effort Over Lenten Success Mar 11, 2019 12:30:59 PM  |  by [Kelly Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kelly-guest) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0311-KGuest-f.jpg) [!["Lenten effort over Lenten success" by Kelly Guest (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0311-KGuest.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0311-KGuest.jpg) Copyright 2019 Kelly Guest. All rights reserved.[/caption] We are less than a week into Lent and I’ve messed up already! Why is it so difficult to rise with the alarm – the first time? This is going to be a long Lent. I begin to wonder if I should just choose something else for my sacrificial offering to God this year. Then I remember. God delights more in our efforts than even in our successes. “For it is loyalty ...” (some translations say “steadfast love”) “... that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). God does not need my sacrifice; getting up when my body wants to stay just a few moments longer under the warm covers is for me, so that I can learn to discipline the flesh. God, on the other hand, delights in my steadfast efforts. My longing to be more like Him and know Him better pleases Him. I imagine God, who is Father, takes as much delight in my struggle as I do in my toddler’s determination to walk. She rises up on her own two feet, steady herself, take a few steps, and, as I knew she would, she falls on her bum. I smile, tell her, “Good job! Try again!” Then, I help her up and encourage her to step out again. As she begins walking, I hold my hands out to her, cheering her on: “Keep coming!” What joy when she finally makes it the few feet to my outstretched arms! I am that child; God is the Father coaxing me forward. The important thing is for me not to give up, to keep trying. But how do I hope to conquer the flesh, which is so weak? I look to the Stations of the Cross. Jesus fell three times. In His mercy, He allows me to see His human weakness. Thank you, Jesus. He also shows me what to do next. Each time He fell, He got up and kept going. He walked to outstretched arms. What motivated Him? Love. Love for me. Thus, love for Him will motivate me. I notice, also, that after the first fall, who is there to give Him comfort? Mary. After Jesus is condemned to death and accepts His cross, He falls – almost immediately, like me. At the Fourth Station, though, Jesus meets His Mother. Her presence and prayers give Him aid. I know this because at the Fifth Station, Simon helps Jesus carry the cross. Then, the Seventh Station, Veronica wipes His face. Through Mary’s prayers, Jesus was helped. Mary will help me, too. So, tomorrow morning, when the alarm goes off, I will roll out of bed onto my knees, and say a Hail Mary. Or perhaps I will say the Hail Mary, then roll out of bed. Baby steps! --- *Copyright 2019 Kelly Guest * ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F11%2Flenten-effort-over-lenten-success%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F11%2Flenten-effort-over-lenten-success%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F11%2Flenten-effort-over-lenten-success%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Lenten%20Effort%20Over%20Lenten%20Success) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F11%2Flenten-effort-over-lenten-success%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F11%2Flenten-effort-over-lenten-success%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Kelly Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Kelly%20Guest%2008%202021.jpg) ### [Kelly Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kelly-guest) Kelly Guest is the author of Saintly Moms: 25 Stories of Holiness. For over 30 years, she has worked in various ministries in the Church, beginning with her five years as a Dominican sister. She is now the Director of Family Faith Formation at her parish. She lives with her husband Paul and their nine wonderful children in the rolling country hills of Maryland. [**](https://www.twitter.com/nun2nine) ## Related Blog Articles [ Mid-Lenten Crisis: A 14-Step Guide to Finish your Lent Strong by Erika Marie Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/03/16/mid-lenten-crisis-a-14-step-guide-to-finish-your-lent-strong-by-erika-marie) [ Classic Lenten Reads Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/02/22/classic-lenten-reads) [ I Thirst: A Lenten Image Reflection Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/03/04/thirst-lenten-image-reflection/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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