“Fasting is the support of our soul: it gives us wings to ascend on high, and to enjoy the highest contemplation! […] God, like an indulgent father, offers us a cure by fasting” (St. John Chrysostom).

Editor’s note: This Lent, the Catholic Women in Business team is exploring the theme “Cultivating Virtue in the Desert.” Learn more here.

Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. I always feel excited when it gets close, because it feels like a “fresh start” to my spiritual life. It is the same feeling that many of us get at the beginning of a new year. I look forward to creating new spiritual goals for myself—and, yes, even the fasting.

The thought that fasting can be something to feel positive about may sound strange. I have found, however, that by looking at how fasting benefits souls (our own and the souls of others) and our relationship with God, we can find joy in it.

Offer It up

Fasting is a great way to make sacrifices for our intentions and people who need our prayers. Jesus calls us to unite our sufferings to his sacrifice on the cross. When we choose to give up a food or activity that we enjoy, we feel pain from that detachment. We can offer up the pains from our small sacrifices to God, and he accepts them just as he did Jesus’ sufferings.

While it might seem easier to just pray for certain intentions, it is important to know how powerful prayer and fasting can be when combined. As Matt Fradd has said, “You could say that prayer without fasting is like boxing with one hand tied behind your back, and that fasting without prayer is, well, dieting.”

Both actions are good even if performed alone, but there is more strength in prayer and fasting when they are done at the same time.

Obstacles Between Us and God

Another aspect of fasting that I appreciate is that it helps me deepen my relationship with God. When choosing what to give up for Lent each year, I look deep within my heart to uncover what is preventing me from growing closer to him. Social media is always a big one—not just for myself but for many others as well. I spend much time on my social media accounts, usually mindlessly scrolling through content. Sometimes, I do it as a form of procrastination or just because I am bored. I may even do it late in the evening and then become too tired to pray or do any spiritual reading.

As I have been preparing myself to part with social media for 40 days this year, I have been asking myself “What if …?” questions. What if I choose to immediately do the task I am putting off and offer up my displeasure to God? What if I use times where I am bored to pray the Rosary or read Scripture? What if I choose to use my time before bed to do an examination of conscience or pray the Liturgy of the Hours? I could go on and on with these types of questions. There are so many ways that I could use my social media time to work on my relationship with God.

You don’t have to give up social media to have a fruitful Lent, however. Take time to talk to God about what is keeping you from growing closer to him. Ask him to help you see your heart as he sees it, so that it may shine even more brightly with his light in this season.

Parting From the World

A third benefit of fasting is that it helps us to practice detachment from the earth. One of my favorite St. Thérèse quotes (which is actually  a misquote of a poem her father recited to her) is “The world’s thy ship and not thy home.” God has placed us on this earth for only a short time so that we may prepare ourselves for our true home: Heaven. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying earthly pleasures, we must not rely on them for fulfillment. We will only find fulfillment in God, because he created us for himself. Even if secular things bring us temporary happiness, they will never bring us the true joy that we receive from God.

Lenten sacrifices allow us to practice detaching ourselves from the world as we meditate on the loving sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for each one of us. As we learn to focus less on worldly pleasures, we can instead recognize our purpose: to love and serve God and to bring others to know his love as well.

Rebekah Davidson has lived in Ohio all her life. She has degrees in both business management and journalism, and is pursuing a freelance writing career. Apart from writing, she enjoys traveling, reading, and playing piano and guitar. She is a big fan of St. Thérèse, her confirmation name, and all things Martin family. She is currently working on launching a Catholic-themed blog in 2023.