In the depths of winter, when the skies are gray and the days are short... we find ourselves entering the longest and darkest season of preparation in the Christian calendar: the season of Lent.
These 6 weeks leading up to the celebration of Holy Week provide us with a unique opportunity in our often busy lives, a time to examine, fast, and pray.
For those of us on a journey to soul health, Lent can be a particularly beneficial time.
While the earliest mention of Lent comes from the Council of Nicea in the fourth century, it is likely that Christians had already been practicing forty-day fasts modeled after Jesus’ time in the wilderness as told in the Gospels.
Designating an official fast that would lead all Christians through the season and up to Easter became a fixed point in the Christian calendar, one that hundreds of millions of Christians around the world now practice together every year.
During this season, you don’t have to walk alone. Lent is meant to be a shared journey, one practiced alongside others who are also slowing down, reflecting, and turning their attention toward God. Through Soul Care’s seasonal resources and guided rhythms, we create space to journey intentionally together, offering daily invitations that support prayer, reflection, and connection throughout the season.
Here are 4 ways to grow in your soul health as we enter the season of Lent together:
1. Lent is a time of abstinence.
For traditional Catholics, this often means abstaining from meat. Perhaps, as someone new to the practice, or even if you have done this many times before, you could consider abstaining from something during this Lenten season.
What is something in your life that you could lay to the side, both as a sacrifice but also as a means of continually being called back to the quietness of soul that Lent offers?
2. Lent is a time of giving.
As we enter into Lent, is there a daily or weekly way that you could give of your time, your money, or other resources in a way that would cause this Lenten season to be a blessing to those around you, either in your community or the wider world?
3. Lent is a time of reflection.
When Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, if you go to a church for the imposition of ashes, a priest will place ashes on your forehead while saying something along the lines of, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (BCP, p 265).
The ashes are from the previous year’s Palm Sunday’s palm fronds that have been burned down to ash. Lent offers us a time to remember that our lives will not last forever, and this is not a bad thing.
4. Lent is a time of prayer.
Prayer sits at the heart of the Lenten journey. It is how we return, again and again, to God amid distraction, fatigue, and longing. During Lent, prayer does not need to be complicated or eloquent. Sometimes it is as simple as a breath prayer whispered throughout the day:
“Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
This season invites us into daily rhythms of prayer that shape our inner life over time. Rather than striving for intensity, Lent encourages faithfulness—small, steady moments of attentiveness that form us gently.
To support this rhythm, Soul Care has created a new free resource, Lent 2026: 40 Days of Reflection. This daily guide is designed to walk with you through the season with Scripture, prayer prompts, and simple invitations rooted in our Page, Person, and Plan rhythm:
Page — Reflect through Scripture, journaling, and a guided question.
Person — Connect by sharing your experience with someone in your life.
Plan — Practice intention through music, stillness, and embodied prayer.
Each day offers a quiet structure for prayer, helping you stay present and attentive as you journey toward Holy Week.
Make space for your soul health this Lent.
Lent is not only about what we give up, but about what we make room for. If you’re looking for a simple, intentional way to walk through this season, we invite you to request our free daily guide.
Lent 2026: 40 Days of Reflection will be available soon. You can request it now to receive the guide when it’s ready and prepare your heart for the journey ahead.
👉 Request the Lent 2026 Guide
May this season bring clarity, healing, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence with you.
Shawn Smucker
Team Soul Care