Where There’s Blayze

Lent is one of those seasons that feels daunting. It’s a time of self-denial, a time to be more disciplined, a time to give something up. But why do we do it?

For many, Lent becomes a tradition that boils down to avoiding sweets or coffee for 40 days, something that’s inconvenient, but not life-altering. Yet, at its core, Lent is meant to mirror Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4:1–13). It’s about dependence on God, about learning to lean on His strength rather than our own.

And that’s something we struggle with.

The Problem of Control

We don’t like to surrender control. We may say we trust God, but do we really depend on Him? Think about it, where in your life do you actively rely on God? I don’t pray for my daily bread; I rely on my pay from the Church to buy food. I don’t depend on divine provision; I trust Asda and the occasional takeaway to keep me fed. So why am I surprised when I don’t see God at work? We can only see God moving when we’ve actually made space for Him to do so. And that’s where fasting—true fasting—comes in.

Fasting isn’t about proving how spiritual you are. It’s about removing something that fuels you so that you can rely on God instead. It’s about stepping into a place of vulnerability and saying, Lord, I need Your strength to sustain me. That’s exactly what Jesus did when He went into the wilderness.

Jesus in the Wilderness: More Than a Test

Many people misunderstand Jesus. Some think He was simply pretending to be human while secretly coasting through life with divine cheat codes. This is the theology of the incarnation of Christ. Many Christians will have heard the word ‘incarnation’ and might have even affirmed belief in the incarnation, but many do not really know what this means. In crossways ‘preaching the word’ they describe it by saying that, “Many Christians do not understand this though they affirm that they believe it, because nestled in their understanding of the incarnation is the thought that though Christ had a human body, his mind was not completely that of a human. “How could God have a human mind and be God? Surely, the divine had to intrude.”” But Scripture tells us something different:

• “He had to be made like his brothers in every respect” (Hebrews 2:17).

• He was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus chose to live as we do. He willingly set aside His divine privileges, taking on the limitations of humanity (Philippians 2:5–11). That means when He faced temptation, He didn’t overcome it through sheer divine willpower, He overcame it through complete trust in the Father.

And that’s what Satan tried to break.

Temptation #1: Trust or Take Control?

After 40 days of fasting, Jesus was starving. That’s when Satan came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3).

This was a real temptation. Jesus could have done it. It’s not like tempting me to buy a private jet, I simply can’t. But turning stones into bread? Well within His power. But this wasn’t just about food. It was about trust. Jesus had been led into the wilderness by the Spirit. The Father had not provided food. The temptation was: Will you take matters into your own hands, or will you trust God? Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy: “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3).

In Deuteronomy, Moses reminded Israel how God provided manna in the wilderness to teach them dependence. Jesus, unlike Israel, refused to grumble. He refused to take shortcuts. He chose to trust the Father.

Temptation #2: Power Without Pain

Satan’s next move? Offering Jesus a shortcut:

“To you I will give all this authority and their glory… If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” (Luke 4:6–7).

What’s the offer? Skip the cross. No suffering, no rejection, no pain, just bow, and the world is yours now. Sounds easy, right? But at what cost? Jesus knew this would mean breaking His perfect unity with the Father. We know Jesus was perfectly harmonised with the will of the Father as Jesus mentions that “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19). Succumbing to the temptations of Satan would be to break this perfect connection with God and acting in a manner that was not in line with God. It would mean trading eternal salvation for a temporary kingdom.

So He responded: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Luke 4:8, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13).

No shortcuts. No compromises. No easy way out.

Temptation #3: Forcing God’s Hand

Satan’s final trick? Using Scripture against Jesus.

He took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you…’” (Luke 4:9–11, quoting Psalm 91).

This is classic. People love twisting Scripture. They take a verse out of context, throw it at you, and act like they’ve just exposed Christianity. Satan was saying, “Oh, you trust God? Prove it. Jump. Let’s see if He catches you.” But Jesus didn’t fall for it. He answered: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16). Faith isn’t about forcing God to act. It’s about following His lead. We don’t test God by demanding miracles on our terms. We step out in faith when He calls us to.

What This Means for Us

Here’s the key takeaway:

1. We will be tempted. Whether it’s food, power, or testing God, we all face moments where we have to choose between trusting Him and doing things our way.

2. Temptation isn’t sin, but how we respond matters. Jesus was tempted, but He didn’t give in. He relied on God’s Word. Do we?

3. Discipline isn’t about impressing God—it’s about depending on Him. Jesus fasted, not to prove something, but to lean on God’s strength.

So what about us?

Lent isn’t just about tradition. It’s a time to step into the wilderness, to ask, How much do I actually depend on God?

• Have I given Him control? Or am I still trying to run my own life?

• Do I rely on Him for strength? Or am I coasting on my own?

• Do I let Him lead? Or am I constantly looking for easier options?

The Challenge for Lent

Whatever you’re giving up this Lent—add to it.

• Ask God every morning, What do You want me to do today?

• Ask Him, Who do You want me to pray for?

• Ask Him, Where do You want me to step out in faith?

Let’s stop avoiding the wilderness. Let’s stop avoiding dependence on God. Because the wilderness is where we see Him work. Let’s lean on His strength. Let’s stop making excuses. Let’s be accountable. And let’s run this race together.