Making Space for God in Lent
Lent often gets framed as a season of “giving things up,” but Evelyn Underhill might gently shift that idea. For her, the heart of the spiritual life wasn’t about deprivation for its own sake—it was about making space. Space for God, for awareness, for a deeper kind of attention.
Underhill believed that God is always present, but we’re often too distracted to notice. Lent, then, becomes less about losing something and more about clearing away what clutters our inner lives. It might be noise, busyness, constant scrolling, or even the habit of rushing through everything.
What if, instead of asking “What should I give up?”, you asked, “What is taking up too much space in me?” The goal isn’t to become empty, but to become available.
Underhill emphasized the importance of stillness. Even a few minutes of quiet each day can become sacred. Not complicated prayer. Not perfect focus. Just being present, honestly, before God.
And here’s the freeing part: you don’t have to “achieve” anything in that space. You’re not performing. You’re just showing up.
This kind of Lent is less about self-improvement and more about relationship. It’s about noticing where God is already at work in your life—and making room to encounter that more deeply.
So maybe your Lenten practice this year is simple. A pause. A breath. A moment of attention.
And that might be more transformative than any grand gesture.
Reflective Questions
· What currently fills most of my mental and emotional space?
· Where do I feel rushed or distracted in my daily life?
· What is one small way I can create quiet space each day?
· How comfortable am I with simply being still before God?
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2026@Go Deeper Ministries
