Fasting from Fear for Lent
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Romans 8:35-39
35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I’m posting this much later in the day than usual! I’m really struggling to get into a new “groove!” I continue to get up early, but somehow can’t arrange my time as I used to. Throughout all this down time and attempting to adjust to a new lifestyle, I have caught bits and pieces of “breaking news” stories. (I shared some time ago that my family attempts to shield me from all the turmoil in the world by limiting my exposure to television news!) What I heard and saw, time and time again, was that somewhere in the world, at all times, there is the threat of war, there is a famine, a drought, an impending epidemic, violent weather, cruelty, injustice, and inhumanity. And then I go to the Word – back to my Bible. And I remember these verses from Romans. And I am not overwhelmed about it all any more.
One of the things I’ve been focusing on this Lenten season is relying more upon God in my daily life. In the day-to-day, and day-in and day-out activities of my life. I’ve given up one of my food addictions for Lent, not just to give something up, but to serve as a constant reminder of how often and how completely I need God. I don’t need the food item. I don’t even crave it any more – though I still, out of habit, will start to reach for it. This idea stemmed from my brief experience with fasting during a study on Spiritual Disciplines. It was very powerful then and I have found it to be the same now.
I am almost to the point where I don’t feel challenged or “suffering” enough as I have gone through the past weeks. I’m deciding whether or not to eliminate other “idols” from my life—which of course would only be possible long-term by offering it up to God in gratitude for the gift of His Son. On my own, it would be impossible to forego something I really like or enjoy. By relying upon Christ, who gave me everything He had, in honor of His Father, I am able to endure.
You may be wondering what on earth fasting has to do with all the distressing world situations I ticked off a few lines ago. Well . . . I have found that in spite of everything going on in the world, I am not afraid. I don’t have bombs dropping around me, and I don’t risk being tortured and murdered for what I believe in, but my small fast helps me somehow connect with the rest of humanity. My tiny sacrifice makes me think of all the others who have less – and less than nothing. Every time I catch myself thinking it’s just too hard, and it’s getting old . . . I remember the Cross.
We are indeed all more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. He conquered death once and for all time. For that reason, all of us have hope in eternal life in heaven. Nothing in our past, present or future can separate us from God’s love.
My prayer today is that you fast from the idols in your life. And remember, “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
