5. The Temptation to Discouragement
Temptations, discouragement, and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. – St. Padre Pio
The devil likes nothing more than to make us as miserable as he is. And he knows that if we are feeling discouraged we are likely to be less cooperative with God’s grace. So, during Lent the devil can tempt us to feel like giving up on living the penitential spirit of the season. He can make us feel like we are constantly failing and just no good at this. The thing is – no one is “good” at Lent. If you think you are, you are not choosing the right penances.
So, when we feel discouraged, it is an opportunity to thank God with loud shouts of joy for saving us from our mediocrity and sin. It makes no sense to be lost in discouragement if we really believe the Gospel message. Even in Lent, we know that Jesus has died, yes, but he has also risen, and joy and grace is available now for us to be transformed. And thank God for that!
There are many more ways the devil can attack during Lent. And there are many ways to fight back. If you have any ideas to add from your own personal experience, from Scripture or from the Saints, please feel free to add them to the comments!
WATCH THIS: Powerful Prayer For Anyone Who’s In Debt and Needs Instant Help
