March 9, 2026: A Student in Training — Trusting His Guidance

What does it mean to let God train you?

Not just guide you in big life decisions — but shape the way you move through ordinary days. Lent often feels like a season where we try to fix things about ourselves.

Pray more. Give up something. Be more disciplined.

These are all good things! But what if Lent is less about fixing and more about training - becoming a student, and through that the "fixing" will naturally follow?

• Training our hearts to listen.
  
• Training our pace to slow.
  
• Training our trust in God.

Not perfectly. But faithfully.

Training & Retraining

My word of the year for 2026 is CLEARER. And what’s been revealed so far is my need to honor my pace — which is much slower than the one I’ve been operating under for the past thirty years. 

For most of my adult life, I’ve practiced and “perfected” the art of going fast.

• Multitasking.
  
• Getting things done.
  
• Accomplishing a lot.

And to be fair, that pace has helped me do some amazing things. But it has also meant missing some things. Important things.

Somewhere along the way, I realized something had become misaligned. Not dramatically wrong. Just … not quite the pace God may have been inviting me into all along. 

So this year has quietly become a season of retraining.

A Moment That Stopped Me

During Mass, Fr. Bill shared something in his homily that caught my attention. He was speaking about reconciliation, and one piece in particular stood out — his explanation about guilt.

He said guilt is often self-focused, not God-focused.

Many of us have felt "Catholic guilt" and other kinds too. But hearing it described this way offered a different perspective.

When we stay focused on our guilt, we keep our eyes on ourselves. But when we turn toward God, something shifts. Our focus moves from our failures to His mercy — and that's where grace quietly begins to work.

Learning to Walk with God

In this week's video, we visit our Hug devotional again where the prophet Isaiah describes this kind of training beautifully:

“Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen like a student. The Lord God helps me learn.” - Isaiah 50:4-5

This is what Lent can become. A season where God wakes us up again. Where He teaches us how to listen. Where we slowly learn — sometimes through trial and error — how to walk in His direction.

Falling ... and Standing Again

Training with God doesn't mean that we don't stumble. In fact, we will stumble a lot. And that's many times where the learning begins.

• We try something.
• We fall.
• We notice ... then
• We get back up.

Grace makes that possible.

Anne Graham Lotz once said: "Walk in the daylight of God's will because then you will be safe, you will not stumble."

What a great image - walking in the daylight.

But even when we trip along the way, God is still guiding our steps. Because faith is not about walking perfectly. It's about continuing to walk with Him.

A Gentle Invitation

Maybe Lent isn't asking you to become someone different. Maybe it's simply inviting you to train with God. To allow him to:

• slow your pace
• clarify your direction
• teach you to listen, again

And when you fall - because we all do - to trust that His grace will help you stand again. One faithful step at a time.

Questions for Reflection

Take a quiet moment and ask yourself:

• Where might God be retraining my pace right now?
• Do I tend to focus more on guilt - or on God's grace?
• What might it look like to listen to God like a student?
• Where is He guiding my next small step?

Rosaries to Support your Training

These handcrafted rosaries can accompany your prayer this season (and beyond) - quiet reminders that faith is learned step by step.

	✦ All Things are Possible Door Rosary A daily reminder to pause and turn your attention back to God. Whether you pray a decade or simply let it catch your eye as you pass by, it invites you to trust that with Him, even small steps of faith can lead somewhere beautiful. Browse All Things are Possible →
	✦ Serenity Prayer Pocket Rosary  Small enough to carry with you wherever the day leads. Use it during a walk, in a quiet moment, or whenever you need to pause and place your trust back in God's guidance. A simple companion for the ongoing training of faith. See Serenity Prayer Pocket Rosary →

Browse all handcrafted rosaries here →

Want More Like This?

If you’re not already on my email list, I’d love for you to join! You’ll get reflections like this first, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and new product previews.
👉 Sign up here

A Simple Prayer

Lord,
Teach me to listen for your voice. 
When I fall, help me trust that Your grace will help me stand again.
Guide my steps and keep me close to You.
Amen.

Walking with you in faith,
Kathleen