Lent invites us to get honest. Honest about longing, grief, doubt, and the dead places in our lives. In Jesus’ encounter with Lazarus, He meets Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in deeply personalized ways revealing that the God we often wish to keep at a distance is the one who knows us completely and loves us fully.

Journaling Prompts:

God created us uniquely, knows us intimately, and relates to us accordingly. In this season of your life how has God encountered you? If you struggle to formulate a response take this prompt as invitation to get curious and honest.

Historically have you found the idea of being known (especially being known by God) more comforting or scary? How might the story of Lazurus inform your feelings around being known going forward?

Practice: Notice the flowers.

Spend some time outside. Sit at a park or go on a walk. Try doing this without headphones in and be present with the world around you. In this season of Spring what might nature have to say to you about decay and rebirth? What conversation might you want to have with God?