Resurrect Your Spiritual Life

Laura Nelson offers reassurance and motivation that even if Lent didn't go well, there's always time to grow in faith.

“Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!”   

I don’t know about you but it feels GOOD to say Alleluia again! Don’t get me wrong. I love Lent and the simplicity of our faith lives during that season of preparation. I love how all the peripherals of life fall away and the only things that remain are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. I love the way we refocus our spiritual lives back to God in any areas where we might have gone off track. That’s assuming, of course, that our Lent went as planned … 

When Lent Didn't Go as Planned

But what if it didn’t? What do we do with Easter when our Lent wasn’t what we hoped it would be? Often, Lent doesn’t go as we hoped it might. Maybe it’s because we had high expectations that were actually unrealistic. Maybe it’s because we never quite made a decision on what we were going to do for the season. Maybe life got in the way, through traumas big or small.

Frankly, my Lent was lackluster at best. I struggled to find the “thing” that resonated with my current spiritual struggles. I started, floundered, and restarted my Lenten observances. I changed plans midway through Lent — and then didn’t follow through with them.   

Yet, even though my Lent was meh, Christ still died and rose. For me. For us. For the imperfect. For the sinful. For the weak. We didn’t earn that great gift by our Lenten observances. And we definitely didn’t earn the joy of the Resurrection through our personal holiness. That’s why it feels so good to loudly proclaim, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen indeed!” 

Spiritual Growth Can Happen Anytime

The great news is, spiritual growth doesn’t have to be contained to the seasons of Advent or Lent. It can happen anytime throughout the liturgical year. Since Christ died and rose for us, we can also rise to new life this Easter season. Let us use this Easter as an opportunity to resurrect our spiritual lives with a renewed sense of joy and life that comes from the Resurrection.  

So, if your Lent was lackluster, don’t lament. God still loves you enough to suffer, die, and rise to new life for you. Let that love be your motivation to grow in holiness with Him and for Him this Easter season. Alleluia! 

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Copyright 2025 Laura Nelson
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