LENT WK 2: WHERE DO I MOST NEED TO BE FORMED

“Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he’d do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.”  

1 Kings 8:56-58

(ICON to the right) St. Brendan the Navigator (6th century, Ireland)

"Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You. Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in Your hand. Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You."

Where Do I Most Need to Be Formed?

The salty sea air whipped across Brendan's face as he stood at the bow of the small boat, his eyes scanning the horizon. For years, he had dreamed of this voyage—seeking the Promised Land of the Saints. Now, here he was, fourteen brothers by his side, venturing into the unknown vastness of the Atlantic.

As the familiar Irish coastline faded from view, Brendan felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. He knew the journey ahead would test them in ways they couldn't imagine. Yet a deep peace settled in his soul as he recalled the words he had often prayed:

"Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You."

Brendan understood that this voyage was about more than just reaching a physical destination. It was a journey of the heart—a formation of trust, surrender, and obedience.

I’ve felt this tension in my own leadership journey—this pull between trusting God’s way and forging my own path. As an apprentice of Jesus, a husband, a dad, I’ve learned that my biggest temptations often aren’t the obvious pitfalls but the subtle ones—the temptation to hurry, to control outcomes, to prove my worth through productivity. 

Jesus knew this kind of journey, too. As he stepped into the wilderness after his baptism, the Spirit led him into a season of testing. The temptation was not just about resisting sin; it was about trusting the Father when an easier path seemed more appealing. Would he rely on his own strength, or would he remain faithful to the rhythms and ways of God?

Formation requires surrender. 

It requires us to notice where we are resisting God’s shaping process, where we are tempted to forge our own way rather than yield to the way and pace of Jesus.

So where do you most need to be formed? Where are you most tempted to find your own way rather than trust in God’s? 

These moments of temptation can be invitations to slow down, to walk at the pace of Jesus, and to notice how God is forming you in real time. When I rush ahead, trying to control and strive, I find myself exhausted and disconnected. But when I remember that God has been faithful before—that He’s given me enough for today—it reshapes my posture. It allows me to exhale.

“May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.”

Temptation is not just about avoiding sin; it’s about choosing cooperation with God’s good soul work over resistance. It’s about remembering who we are and Whose we are. 

So today, pray for the grace to notice. Where might God be inviting you to be shaped? Where are you most tempted to forge your own way? Watch the signposts. Trust the Father. And keep walking at the pace of grace.