Lent 2026 Day 37 – “I know in whom I have trusted.”
If your Lenten resolve has failed, know that you are not alone. This past week I have slipped back into pre-Lent habits and not done as much as I have been in the way of personal prayer, contemplation, and scripture study. This is mostly why I have not been keeping up with my Lent posts, but it also has to do with me returning to Twitch and streaming and engaging with other streamers and viewers.
I think returning to Twitch has been a good thing, overall, as it has allowed me to reconnect with good friends I have made there and interact on some level socially with others. It has also reminded me how much I love and need music and enjoy sharing it with others.
It's also been a good creative outlet, so I feel less of a need to use my blog for that purpose. But I know I need to find a good balance – all things in moderation.
It would be easy to just throw up my hands and say “what's the point?” But I can't deny that I am in a better place with my faith now than before I started my Lenten observance. So it's been worth it.
A favorite passage from the Book of Mormon comes to mind, sometimes called “Nephi's Psalm,” that I can relate to so much.
Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
I often read and reflect on this passage when I feel upset about my own failings and shortcomings – when I know that I still desire in my heart to be like Jesus but am forced to recognize how far short I am, and how much more I still need to change.
Sometimes I despair. But then I hope. Because I trust in Jesus Christ. Because I know that God is still reaching for me and I can keep reaching for Him.
“I know in whom I have trusted.”
#100DaysToOffload (No. 159) #faith #Lent #Christianity