The Final Stretch: Deepening Your Lenten Journey

We are past Laetare Sunday—the moment in Lent when the Church gives us a small pause, a reminder that Easter is coming, that the light at the end of the tunnel is near. The pink vestments, the shift in tone—it is like a deep breath in the middle of a marathon. But here’s the thing: the final stretch of the race is often the hardest.

I do not know about you, but this is the time when I start feeling the weight of my Lenten commitments. The initial excitement has worn off, the sacrifices I made at the beginning of Lent do not feel as meaningful anymore, and honestly, I have probably slipped up a few times. Maybe I skipped my extra prayers. Maybe I indulged in that thing I gave up. Maybe I have just been going through the motions without any real spiritual renewal.

If you are feeling this way, you are not alone. But do not give up. This is precisely when Lent matters most—when we push through, refocus, and finish strong.

Why This Part of Lent is Hard

At the beginning of Lent, everything feels fresh and purposeful. We stand in line on Ash Wednesday, receive the ashes on our foreheads, and hear the solemn words: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” There is a weight to it—a holy reminder that life is fleeting, that we are called to conversion. We leave Holy Mass that day with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to pray more, fast diligently, and give generously.

But now? Now we are deep into Lent, and the initial excitement has faded. The sacrifices that once felt meaningful may now feel routine, even frustrating. The prayers that once gave us peace might seem dry. We may have slipped up, broken our resolutions, or simply lost our motivation. And so, we start to wonder: Why is this so hard?

The truth is, this is the point where real transformation begins. This is when Lent becomes less about what we feel and more about what we choose.

1. The Excitement Has Worn Off, But the Sacrifice Remains

At the start of Lent, our sacrifices feel noble. We give up coffee, sweets, social media—whatever it is—and we feel good about it. We are doing something for God! But as the weeks drag on, the novelty wears off. Suddenly, skipping that morning coffee is not inspiring—it is just annoying. Turning off social media feels isolating. Fasting feels inconvenient.

This is where the real work of sacrifice begins. As Saint John Vianney said, “The first sign of love is sacrifice.” Love is not about doing something when it feels easy or fulfilling; love is about perseverance, about choosing to give when there is nothing in it for us. When our Lenten commitments start to feel tedious, it is a sign that we are actually making a sacrifice.

2. Our Weakness is Being Exposed—And That is Uncomfortable

Lent is not just about external sacrifices; it is about interior conversion. And as we journey through these forty days, we start to see our weaknesses more clearly.

Maybe we realise how dependent we are on comfort—how much we turn to food, entertainment, or distractions instead of turning to God. Maybe we recognise how impatient we are, how easily we complain, how reluctant we are to truly surrender. Lent has a way of shining a light on the parts of ourselves that we would rather ignore.

That can be discouraging. But it is also a gift. God is not revealing our weaknesses to shame us—He is revealing them so that we can surrender them to Him. As Saint Paul reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

3. We Are Tempted to Settle for “Good Enough”

Halfway through Lent, it is easy to start compromising. Maybe we started strong, but now we tell ourselves, “Well, I have done pretty well so far… does it really matter if I ease up a little?”

Yes, it does.

The devil loves to work in small compromises. He knows that most of us will not abandon our Lenten sacrifices outright—but we might slowly let them slip. We start making exceptions, choosing comfort over sacrifice, distraction over prayer. And before we know it, Lent becomes just another season that passes us by without real change.

But this is the moment to push forward. This is when our Lenten journey has the power to shape us. Do not settle for good enough—strive for holiness. As Saint Josemaría Escrivá said, “To begin is for everyone, to persevere is for saints.”

4. Spiritual Dryness Can Make Us Feel Like We Are Failing

One of the hardest parts of Lent is when we stop feeling close to God. Maybe at the beginning, our prayers felt rich, our sacrifices felt meaningful, and our hearts were full of devotion. But now? Maybe our prayers feel empty, our sacrifices feel pointless, and God feels distant.

This is normal. In fact, this is part of the spiritual journey.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta—who spent years feeling spiritually dry—once said, “We are not called to be successful, we are called to be faithful.” If your Lent feels dry, do not give up. Keep praying, keep sacrificing, keep showing up. True love is found in faithfulness, not in feelings.

5. This is the Part That Really Matters

Right now, when you feel tired, unmotivated, or tempted to give up—this is the most important moment of Lent. Because this is when you can truly unite your sacrifices with Christ.

Jesus did not carry His Cross with excitement. He carried it with love. He carried it in suffering. And He carried it all the way to Calvary.

This final stretch of Lent is when we are invited to walk with Him, to love Him not just in words, but in sacrifice. If we can persevere in these last days of Lent, not because it feels good, but because we love Him—then we will experience the joy of Easter in a deeper, more powerful way.

How to Reignite Your Lenten Journey

If you are struggling to stay motivated, do not just push forward blindly—take a moment to reflect and recalibrate. Here are some practical ways to finish Lent strong:

1. Remember Your “Why”

Go back to Ash Wednesday. Why did you choose this particular sacrifice or practice? Was it to grow in patience? To detach from distractions? To strengthen your prayer life? Write that reason down again. Remind yourself of the bigger picture.

If your initial resolutions feel shallow or off-track, it is okay to adjust. Maybe your original Lenten sacrifice was giving up chocolate, but now you realise what you really need to give up is gossip or impatience. It is not too late to refocus.

2. Lean on the Sacraments

If you have not gone to Confession yet this Lent, now is the perfect time. There is something incredibly powerful about receiving the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in these last weeks. It lifts the spiritual weight off our shoulders and renews our resolve.

Saint Francis de Sales reminds us, “Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.” If you have stumbled this Lent, do not be discouraged. God’s mercy is always available, and every single day is a chance to begin again.

3. Intensify Prayer (Even When You Do Not Feel Like It)

Sometimes, when Lent feels dry, we start to back away from prayer. But this is when we need it most. Even if you do not feel anything, even if your prayers seem empty, keep showing up.

Try something new:

• The Stations of the Cross – A powerful meditation on Jesus’ journey to Calvary.

• The Seven Last Words of Christ – Meditate on what Jesus said from the Cross.

• Eucharsitic Adoration – Spend time with God in His Divine presence.

• Silent prayer – Just sit in silence with God for 10 minutes a day.

  
  

Saint Teresa of Calcutta said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God.” Even if you do not know what to say, just be with Him.

4. Serve Others in Small, Hidden Ways

Lent is not just about personal sacrifice—it is about love. If you are feeling spiritually stuck, shift the focus outward. Ask yourself: Who can I serve today?

Some ideas:

• Send a message of encouragement to someone who is struggling.

• Offer up your small annoyances for the intentions of a loved one.

• Do something kind for your family without being asked.

  
  

As Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said, “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

5. Walk With Christ in His Passion

As we approach Holy Week, immerse yourself in the Passion of Christ. Read the Gospel accounts. Picture yourself there in the crowd. Stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary. Let the reality of His suffering sink in—not just as a historical event, but as a personal act of love for you.

Saint Padre Pio once said, “It is in the Cross that we truly understand how much we are loved.”

The Finish Line: Easter is Coming

Right now, you might feel like giving up, like you have already failed too much for Lent to be meaningful. But do not believe that lie. The last stretch of the journey is where transformation happens.

Keep going. Stay faithful. And remember: the joy of Easter will be even greater if we finish this race well.

So do not give up. Push forward. Easter is coming, and God is working in you—even when you cannot see it. You are not alone. Let us walk these final days of Lent together, with our eyes fixed on Christ.

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