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Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey
Love Hurts

Episode 90 | March 9, 2026
Lisa Brenninkmeyer and Laura Phelps

While Walking with Purpose Founder Lisa takes time to write our next women’s Bible study, Laura Phelps welcomes guest Caitlin Bean to the Hope for Right Now podcast for a seven-week series: Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey.

Lent is a time of sacrifice, preparation, and spiritual waiting—a time to prepare our hearts for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For many of us, it has become about exterior performance, a “holy checklist” we begin on Ash Wednesday and struggle to sustain for 40 days. And preparation? Who has time for that? We are exhausted—after all, it was just Christmas!

If this is how your heart feels at the start of Lent, this series is for you—offering practical encouragement, Scripture reflections, and simple ways to experience a more meaningful, peace-filled Lent.

In today’s episode, Laura and Caitlin talk about waiting in dormancy and why God’s timing is perfect, despite circumstances screaming the opposite.

Open your Heart to our key Scripture.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.

Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode.
Romans 5:8: But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Mark 9:43–48: If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”
1 Corinthians 10:31: So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Isaiah 60:22: I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.
Deuteronomy 32:4: The Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice.
Galatians 6:9: Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.
Romans 4:20–21: No distrust made him waver concerning the promises of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Genesis 37:29: When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes.
Job 1:20: Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground and worshiped.

Invite Him in with this episode’s questions for reflection.
Where does dormancy find you today? Are you fighting against the darkness, trying to busy yourself to keep the frustration of slow progress at bay? Or are you learning to lean into it, yielding to the season of the soul?

Show mentions.
For a limited time, get 15% off our Easter gift collection by using the code EASTER15. Hop on over to our shop. Sale ends March 19, 2026.
Nazareth, “Love Hurts”
Caitlin Bean and Laura Phelps, Desert Bloom: Discovering Unexpected Joy in the Wilderness
Laura Douglass, @lauramdoug
Matthew R. Please, The Definitive Guide to Fasting and Abstinence
Dan and Stephanie Burke, Avila Institute
Alli Koscal, Substack, “Finding Havens”
Bible Hub, Topical Encyclopedia

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