The Wilderness of Lent | Lent 2026

By Charley Dever

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. Luke 4:1-2a

Every year, as winter fades, we enter the Lenten season. Lent is a forty-day journey of prayer, fasting, reflection, and repentance – a time to turn our hearts and minds towards Jesus as we prepare to celebrate His resurrection.

 In Lent, we intentionally enter a wilderness experience. We embrace a season of hunger and longing so that our often-misplaced desires can be oriented towards what we truly need: Resurrection. Our deepest longing is to experience resurrection for ourselves, our homes, our relationships, our dreams, our community, and our world.

 In the barrenness of the wilderness, we gain a clearer vision for the abundance available to us in the resurrection. We slow down and cut out the noise to hear the voice of God. Yet, in that same quiet, another voice emerges. It has always been there, influencing how we see ourselves and the world, but in the wilderness, it is easier to identify. It is the voice of the enemy, and it challenges everything God speaks over us. It questions our identity as beloved children; it doubts God’s provision; it suggests we must take matters into our own hands because God doesn't care enough to fix what is broken; it questions whether resurrection is even possible.

 Facing this voice is the hardest part of the wilderness, but it is also the most important. These questions drive us deeper into the arms of God, where we find our true assurance. As a result, our hope for resurrection doesn't just survive—it grows stronger.

 Reflect:

 What is one way you can intentionally enter the wilderness during this lent season?

 Maybe you already find yourself in a wilderness experience. If so, how can you intentionally make space to hear the voice of God more clearly?