March 23, 2026

Episode 92: Overwhelmed by the Mess

39 minutes

Hope for Right Now Podcast –Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey: Overwhelmed by the Mess

While Walking with Purpose Founder Lisa takes time to write our next women’s Bible study, Laura Phelps welcomes guest Caitlin Bean to the Hope for Right Now podcast for a seven-week series: Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey.

Lent is a time of sacrifice, preparation, and spiritual waiting—a time to prepare our hearts for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For many of us, it has become about exterior performance, a “holy checklist” we begin on Ash Wednesday and struggle to sustain for 40 days. And preparation? Who has time for that? We are exhausted—after all, it was just Christmas!

If this is how your heart feels at the start of Lent, this series is for you—offering practical encouragement, Scripture reflections, and simple ways to experience a more meaningful, peace-filled Lent.

In today’s episode, Laura and Caitlin walk us through the mud, offering encouragement and hope for the times we find ourselves overwhelmed by the mess.

Open your Heart to our key Scripture.

John 9:6–7: (Jesus) spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Silo’am” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.”

Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode.

Ezekiel 36:25–26: I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Hebrews 3:15: Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts.”

Psalm 51:17: The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Joel 2:13: Rend your hearts.

Invite Him in with this episode’s questions for reflection.

What is your “perceived mess”? Looking at this from God’s point of view, how might you see His creative work on display?

Is there an area of your heart you're keeping safe in a box, pulling away from the Lord, wrestling with unbelief instead of allowing Him to draw near?

Show mentions.

Caitlin Bean and Laura Phelps, Desert Bloom: Discovering Unexpected Joy in the Wilderness

Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Douay-Rheims Bible translation

St. John Chrysostom

Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Walking with Purpose, Grounded in Hope, Lesson 4: Harden Not Your Hearts

Brené Brown, quote

Caitlin Bean, “For Your Weekend: The Vulnerability and Divinity of Jesus”

C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

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