Second Sunday of Lent—2 Timothy 1:8b-10

How is your Lent going so far? It’s early on, so chances are the novelty hasn’t quite worn off yet. In a few weeks, the Lenten lull will set in, and we’ll all find ourselves asking why we picked this particular Lenten discipline. To prepare us for that inevitable moment, the Holy Spirit has a message for us today: Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from the Lord.

Those words originally referred to hardships like being kicked out of the synagogue for following Jesus, losing your job for following Jesus, or losing a loved one because they followed Jesus. But they can equally apply to the hardships we bear throughout Lent. In some ways, the small things can be harder in practice because they are, after all, small things. The voice of the Devil can be very convincing when he asks us, “Does God really care if you eat a snack today? It’s just a little thing.”

We have to bear our share of hardships for the Gospel, but not by our own strength. It’s by the strength that comes from God. To think that I can perfect myself by myself is heresy; just Google "Pelagianism." To think that I can make it through Lent and keep my Lenten discipline by my own efforts alone, that’s real foolishness. Without the grace of God, it just isn’t possible. But it also really does require my effort.

That’s one of the most beautiful aspects of Lent. It puts on display the interplay between God’s grace and my free will. Salvation is not an irresistible proposition. Holiness is not forced upon us. God does not impose his will. Let’s be clear here: God doesn’t need me and my freedom. He just chooses not to save me without my effort and cooperation. It’s like when my son helps me take out the trash. I can do it just fine without him, in fact better without him. But when I’m at my best, I refuse to do it without his cooperation and help. And over time, his help actually does become helpful.

My silly little efforts this Lent to kill off the evil inclinations in my own heart are pathetic at times. But with God’s help, by patiently bearing hardship with his strength, my pitiful little efforts actually can achieve the goal. As Saint Paul wrote elsewhere, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). I can live the holy life that God calls me to live. Just not without his help.