Lent 2 – Stepping Out of the Shadows

Stepping Out of the Shadows

A short reflection on Psalm 121 and John 3:1-17

Psalm 121 opens with a heartfelt question: “Where will my help come from?” It’s a question we’ve all asked in times of stress or uncertainty. But the Psalm doesn’t leave us guessing. It reminds us that our help comes from the Lord – the one who made the heavens and the hills we lift our eyes to. God’s care is constant, day and night, like a shadow that never leaves your side.

This isn’t a controlling presence. God doesn’t hover or interfere. Instead, God accompanies us – protecting, encouraging, and guiding us through all of life’s terrain. Whether we’re heading out into the world or coming home again, God is with us. The promise isn’t that nothing hard will ever happen, but that we will never face it alone.

John’s Gospel gives us Nicodemus – curious, questioning, and cautious. He comes to Jesus in the dark, searching for answers. Jesus doesn’t shame him. He invites him into something new: to be born anew in the Spirit. Not a physical rebirth, but a transformation. A new way of seeing and being.

Sometimes, like Nicodemus, we cling to what we know. The familiar feels safe, even if it’s no longer life-giving. But Jesus calls us to trust the wind of the Spirit – to step out of our shadows and into the light of God’s love.

New life often starts small: a question, a stirring, a step. But with God, even our hesitations can become holy beginnings. The Spirit moves – will we follow?

Ngā mihi
Philip

p.s. Worship leaders: You can buy a complete Order of Service and Sermon based on these readings here: https://philipgarsidebooks.com/products/worship-at-hand-lent-2-1-march-2026