A Lenten Invitation for the Exhausted Heart

As Lent approaches, Allison Brown offers encouragement for moms whose energy is depleted.

As Lent fast approaches this year, I find myself almost bracing for it rather than longing for it. Not because I don't love the season, but because lately I feel as though I am hanging by a thread.

Lent often begins with good intentions and thoughtful plans. I usually make a list of additional prayers, fasting goals, and spiritual reading I hope to undertake during the season. But before I know it, Ash Wednesday arrives, and I feel completely unprepared — overwhelmed, worn out, and in some years, still recovering from the busyness of Christmas and the long school holidays.

Lent for the Weary

So what happens when Ash Wednesday has come and gone, and you are already worn down by illness, grief, or the quiet weight of daily life? When there is no extra energy to give, no strength — or even patience — left because of mental or physical illness, grief, caregiving, or ongoing responsibilities?

For many of us, Lent does not meet us at our best. More often than not, it meets us in survival mode. And yet, perhaps this is precisely where God desires to meet us — exactly as we are, weary and burdened.

Jesus tells us plainly:

 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

As I reflect on this invitation, I find myself approaching Lent differently. Rather than preparing for it as if it were a spiritual marathon, I find myself simply falling into the Lord's arms, thirsty for His rest and comfort. From within His embrace, I allow Him to take the lead. I allow Jesus to accompany me gently through the weeks of Lent as I prepare my heart for Easter.

And finally, I can breathe.

Choosing Stillness Over Striving

With the Lord's help, I strive to let go of self-criticism and resist comparing my Lenten journey with that of others. Jesus invites me not only to accept others, but also to accept myself and my limitations. Sometimes those limitations mean resting more than striving. Yet as His daughter, I am permitted to rest in His love — choosing stillness in Christ over productivity.

Letting go of control, trusting the Lord to work where I cannot, and offering my current struggles and sufferings for the glory of His heavenly kingdom becomes its own quiet Lenten offering.

Part of this surrender also means allowing myself to accept help from others and recognising that I can do nothing on my own — and that this, in fact, is the point. We are helpless without Jesus.

In the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the disciples bring the Lord what little they have: only five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:17). Jesus takes this small offering and multiplies it into an abundance, with twelve baskets of leftovers. In the same way, we can trust that the Lord will receive our seemingly small offerings and multiply them beyond our understanding.

Lent, then, becomes a season not of proving our holiness, but of being held. It is a time to be still and allow the Lord to transform us without shame, guilt, or fear. It is a time to return to the foot of the Cross exactly as we are: empty-handed, honest, and thankful.

The Lord desires us. He thirsts for us. He patiently waits for our fiat.

Reflection Questions

• Is there anything holding you back from allowing yourself to rest in the Lord this Lent?

• Are you able to set aside a small, intentional time each day to sit quietly with Jesus?

Dan Burke's book Into the Deep and the free video series available at SpiritualDirection.com are helpful resources for developing a daily habit of mental prayer.

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Copyright 2026 Allison Brown
Images: Canva