Lent 6: Staying Present

Mar 24

Written By KC Underground

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Lent 2026, Week 6

Scripture Readings

John 15:1–16

Matthew 11:28–30

Psalm 27

Opening Introduction

As we learn to walk in the way of Jesus, Lent invites us to consider another dimension of formation: staying present rather than rushing ahead, pulling away, or distracting ourselves when things feel unresolved or uncomfortable.

Staying present is often harder than starting well. It requires patience, attentiveness, and trust, especially when change feels slow or when clarity has not yet arrived. Lent trains us to remain with God in the ordinary, the unfinished, and the in-between moments of our lives.

This week invites us to practice abiding with Jesus and learning how presence itself becomes a place of formation.

Reflection

Jesus uses simple language to describe the heart of the spiritual life: “Abide in me.” Abiding is not striving or achieving. It is also not just sitting still. Abiding is an active form of presence where we remain and are formed. Abiding is about refusing to disconnect when growth feels slow or when answers are not immediately clear.

Many of us are tempted to move on too quickly, fix what feels unresolved, distract ourselves from discomfort, or assume that if we are not progressing, something must be wrong. But Scripture consistently shows us that God often works most deeply in seasons that feel quiet, repetitive, or unresolved.

Matthew 11 reminds us that Jesus’s yoke is easy and His burden is light because He is doing the heavy lifting. We are not meant to carry it alone. Abiding teaches us to stay with Jesus in the midst of pressure, fatigue, and uncertainty, trusting that His presence is enough even when outcomes remain unclear.

Staying present also reveals our avoidance habits. We notice when we reach for distraction, control, or busyness instead of remaining attentive to God. Lent does not ask us to judge these instincts, but to notice them gently and return again to presence.

This is slow work. Abiding forms us over time, shaping our hearts through faithfulness rather than urgency. As apprentices of Jesus, we learn that staying with Him, especially when nothing feels finished, is itself an act of trust

Consider

Where do you tend to pull away when things feel unresolved or uncomfortable?
What helps you remain present with God rather than seeking distraction or control?
How do you respond when growth feels slow or invisible?
What might it look like to stay with Jesus this week without trying to fix or rush anything?

Prayer Prompts

Use these prompts to guide your prayer this week:

Pray John 15 slowly.
Read the passage aloud, lingering over Jesus’s invitation to “abide.” Notice what words or images stay with you. Rather than asking what you should do, ask what it might look like to stay connected to Jesus today.
Notice your impulse to escape.
When discomfort, boredom, anxiety, or restlessness arises, pause and ask: What am I wanting to avoid right now? Bring that awareness to God without trying to change it. Let noticing become an act of prayer.
Practice presence without agenda.
Set aside brief moments during the day to become aware of God’s nearness. Resist the urge to fill the space with requests or analysis. Simply acknowledge that God is with you here, now, in this moment.
Pray Matthew 11 as an exchange.
Bring your weariness, pressure, and unfinished concerns to Jesus. Imagine placing them into His care. Ask Him to show you what it looks like to carry life with Him rather than on your own.
Let fasting support abiding.
As hunger, longing, or inconvenience surfaces, notice your instinct to fill the space quickly. Instead, pause and turn your attention toward God. Let the discomfort remind you that remaining is often where formation happens.

Intercede (Corporate Prayer for the Network)

Pray that the Kansas City Underground would become a people who remain with God and with one another. Ask the Spirit to help us resist hurry, distraction, and avoidance. Pray that our microchurches, teams, and families would learn to stay present through complexity, uncertainty, and waiting—trusting that God is at work even when progress feels slow.