Lent began yesterday, and I wanted to share this gently...
By Eli Mercer on
Yesterday, Christians began the 40 days of Lent. I’m not here to preach or pressure anyone I’m sharing from my own heart, especially as someone living in the same overwhelming world we all are.
For me, Lent isn’t about rules or punishment. It’s about slowing down. It’s about stepping away from the noise and asking, Where is my heart right now? And what am I leaning on when life feels like too much?
Looking around the U.S. lately, it feels like so many people are exhausted mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Anxiety is high, families are stretched thin, kids are overwhelmed, and everything feels loud and urgent all the time. You don’t need statistics to feel it. Something is heavy in the air.
Lent reminds me that when life feels unmanageable, God hasn’t moved, we’ve just been pulled in too many directions. This season is an invitation to return. Not perfectly. Not loudly. Just honestly.
I also know that for many in the autism community, faith spaces can be complicated or overwhelming. I get that. But Lent, at its core, isn’t about performance. It’s about relationship. It’s about a God who understands overwhelm, who welcomes stillness, and who meets us where we are exactly as we are.
Turning back to God doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be choosing quiet for a few minutes. Letting go of something that’s draining you. Sitting with God instead of scrolling. Whispering a prayer when words are hard.
My hope this Lent is simple: that hearts soften, rest is found, and we remember we don’t have to carry everything alone. Sometimes coming back to God isn’t a big step; it’s just a quiet turn of the heart.