21 & 22 Feb 2026 (Pastoral Page) MAKING SPACE FOR GOD

by Asst Ps Patrick Chan Yin

As we enter the season of Lent, I would like to invite all of us to pause for a moment.

Life goes on very quickly. Our days are filled with work, school, family responsibilities, messages on our phones, and many other things calling for our attention. Yet, the period of Lent is a gift from God that gently asks us to slow down. It is a season in the church year that prepares our hearts for Good Friday (3 Apr) and Easter (5 Apr), helping us remember the love of Jesus and the grace we have received through Him.

Some of us may be very familiar with Lent. Others may be encountering it for the first time. Lent is a forty-day journey (not counting Sundays) that reminds us of Jesus’ time in the wilderness, where He prayed, fasted, and listened closely to the Father. For us today, Lent is not about being perfect or proving how strong our faith is. It is about making space for God. It is about returning to Him with honest hearts. There are a few things we can do during this Lenten season.

Lent invites us to reflect. It asks us to look at our lives gently and truthfully. Where have we been rushing too much? Where have we been distracted? Where have we relied more on ourselves than on God? Reflection is not meant to weigh us down with guilt. Instead, it helps us see clearly so that we can receive God’s grace more deeply.

Lent also invites us to repent. Repentance simply means turning back to God. It is the quiet moment when we say, “Lord, I need You.” All of us (children, youth, adults, and seniors) need this ‘turning.’ God is not standing far away with crossed arms. He is always the Father who runs to welcome His children home. Lent reminds us that no matter our age or stage of life, God’s mercy is always greater than our failures.

Prayer is another gentle rhythm for this season. Prayer does not need to be long or complicated. It can be as simple as sitting quietly before God, whispering a short prayer, or reading a psalm slowly (e.g., Psalm 51, which is being covered over the pulpit this weekend). Families may find it helpful to pray together before bedtime. God listens to every sincere prayer.

Some people choose to practise fasting during Lent. Fasting does not only mean giving up food. It can also mean stepping back from habits or distractions that take up too much space in our lives – perhaps excessive screen time, endless doomscrolling on social media, constant busyness, or unhelpful patterns of thinking. Fasting helps us notice our hunger for God again. It reminds us that He is our true source of life.

Lent also encourages us to spend time with Scripture. Even a few verses a day can nourish the soul. Reading the Bible slowly allows God’s Word to speak into our lives in fresh ways. For families, reading Scripture together at the dining table can be a meaningful practice. For those living alone, Scripture can be a faithful companion, reminding us that we are never truly alone.

Acts of love are another beautiful expression of Lent. As we receive God’s grace, we are invited to share it with others. This may look like checking in on an elderly neighbor, offering patience to a difficult person, listening more carefully to a family member, or giving generously to those in need. Small acts, done with love, matter deeply to God.

Above all, remember this: Lent is not a test we must pass. It is an invitation we are free to receive. God meets us with grace, not pressure. He walks with us patiently, step by step, day by day.

As we begin this season, may our hearts be softened, our lives slowed, and our eyes lifted once more towards Jesus – who gave Himself for us, and who leads us into new life.

Let us pray:

Gracious and loving God, as we enter this season of Lent, draw us closer to You. Help us to slow down, to listen, and to return to You with honest hearts. Fill our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our church, and our lives with Your peace. May we grow in our love for You and for one another, as we walk together toward the cross and the hope of resurrection.  In Jesus’ saving name, we pray, Amen!