A Lenten Journey of Trust and Surrender

Lent is a season of preparation, a time to turn our hearts toward God in humility and surrender. It is a time of fasting and prayer, of stripping away distractions so we can hear His voice more clearly. This year, as we prepare to step into ministry at a new church, the story of Ezra and his companions speaks powerfully to the posture we must take.

We find them standing at the Ahava Canal, on the cusp of a journey back to Jerusalem—a journey fraught with uncertainty and danger. Yet instead of securing military protection or devising their own plans, they turned their eyes to God, fasting and praying for His guidance and provision.

"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, ‘The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.’ So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty." Ezra 8:21-23 ESV

Ezra and the people of Israel were not just setting out on a physical journey; they were stepping into a new season of God’s calling. Their mission was to restore worship in Jerusalem, but they understood that this was not merely a task to be completed—it was a spiritual act of faith.

A Time to Humble Ourselves

Ezra called for a fast “that we might humble ourselves before our God.” Before taking a single step forward, they acknowledged their need for Him. Fasting was not an empty ritual; it was an act of dependence, a way of saying, Lord, we cannot do this without You.

As we enter this new chapter of ministry, Lent offers us this same invitation. It is a season to humble ourselves before God, to strip away any illusion that we can rely on our own wisdom or strength. It is a time to confess the sins that so easily entangle us and surrender our anxieties about what lies ahead.

Too often, when we step into something new—whether a job, a relationship, or a calling—we focus on external preparations. We make plans, consider logistics, and weigh risks. But Ezra reminds us that the first and most important preparation is internal. If we are not spiritually prepared, no amount of strategic planning will be enough.

Leaving the Past Behind

Fasting was also a time of repentance, a way of ensuring that they did not bring the guilt of their past into this new season. This is a powerful reminder that when God calls us forward, we must not carry old burdens with us.

When we reflect on our own journey, we may find areas where we have allowed fear, doubt, or past failures to shape our perspective. But Lent is a time to lay those things down. When we confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness, we are not only unburdened from the past—we are freed to walk into the future with boldness.

Seeking the Right Way

Ezra fasted and prayed “to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.” The word safe here is not just about physical protection; it is about walking in alignment with God’s will.

So often, when we face transitions, our first instinct is to pray for safety and success. But Ezra’s prayer goes deeper. He is not just asking for protection—he is asking for the right way. He does not assume he knows the best path forward; he seeks God’s wisdom first.

As we prepare to enter this new season of ministry, this is our prayer as well. We do not simply ask for things to go smoothly—we ask for the wisdom to walk in God’s will, even when the road is unclear.

Trusting in God’s Hand

One of the most striking parts of this passage is Ezra’s decision not to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen. He admits he was “ashamed” to do so because he had already declared to the king that God’s hand was on those who seek Him. To ask for military protection would have contradicted the faith he had proclaimed.

There is a lesson here about living consistently with what we profess to believe. If we say that we trust in God’s provision, do our actions reflect that trust? If we declare that He is guiding our steps, do we still try to control every outcome?

It can be tempting to seek security in what we can see and control—whether that’s finances, reputation, or human approval. But Ezra shows us the better way: trusting in the unseen hand of God, even when the road ahead feels uncertain.

God Answered Their Prayer

The passage ends with these simple yet powerful words: “So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”

God heard them. And He hears us, too.

When we truly seek Him—when we humble ourselves, leave behind what holds us back, and commit to following His way—He responds. He may not always answer in the way we expect, but He is always faithful.

Walking Forward in Faith

As we approach Easter and step into this new season of ministry, we do so in the spirit of Ezra’s journey. We take time to fast and pray, to seek God’s wisdom, to trust in His hand rather than our own understanding.

This Lent, let us pause at our own Ahava Canal. Let us lay down our fears and uncertainties before the Lord. Let us confess where we have relied on our own strength instead of His. And let us ask—not just for protection, but for the right way—the way that is aligned with His will, led by His Spirit, and marked by His presence.

Because when we seek Him with all our hearts, He listens. And when He leads the way, we can walk forward in confidence, knowing that His hand is upon us.