Reading a friend’s experience of Great Lent this year and his experience of Pascha (that was this past Sunday for us Orthodox Christians), I could relate.

I answered him with my own experience:

Definitely felt depleted in the midnight service when the Light of Christ came out. It was not close to being the same as experiencing it in person. I also realized what a terribly weak and slothful Christian I am throughout this Great Lent and even Holy Week. I believe it was a test for all of us this season, and I’m thinking I may have just crawled over the finish line, dragging myself along.

Having said that, I know that I learned a lot from this experience. To grow stronger, to work harder at keeping connected to Christ God, and to live with sober awareness of Him and focus on Him every day. It showed me, even more, how important He is in my life. How much more I need Him than ever before.

Out of every difficult time comes a lesson and a ray of light in those darker moments. God is good.

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