2026 Lenten Devotional

Walking Toward Wholeness A Lenten Journey of Healing and Hope

Worshipfully written by the team at Hope Walks

Ash Wednesday - February 18

From Dust to Hope Remembering our need for God’s healing and grace

Scripture “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Reflection A few months ago, I lost my National ID card. I thought I could keep this important document safe in my own strength. This loss became a serious struggle affecting my travels, and I lost my peace of mind. I lifted this serious issue to God in prayer and gave it over to Him in my weakness. After about a week, I received a phone call from someone who said they found my card on the street. This restored my joyful relationship with God, and the struggle I endured became a testimony of grace.

When I acknowledged my weakness, I opened the door to deeper intimacy with my God. Frailty reminds me that I am not self-sufficient. It humbles me, strips away pride, and makes space for dependence on His mercy. God’s love is not conditional on our strength but is magnified in our need.

So, brokenness often becomes the soil where God plants new life. Acknowledging our need is like unclenching our fists. It positions us to receive. Personally, it means admitting where we are wounded or weary, so God can pour in His healing.

In our work, it means recognizing that we cannot carry burdens alone. Healing begins not with strength but with surrender.

Prayer Almighty Father, give us the heart of repentance leading to renewed worship. Help us to think of stories where despair gives way to joy and relationships are restored. In the powerful name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Step of Action Today, humbly acknowledge your weakness and lean on God for your strength.

By Jean Claude Habyarimana Country Director, Rwanda

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Week 1 - February 23

Steps of Faith Trusting God enough to take the first step

Scripture “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

— 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Reflection Most of us would prefer God to hand us the full map: the timeline, the outcomes, and the reassurance of knowing what lies ahead. But Scripture reminds us that God often gives a lamp, not a spotlight.

Enough light for the next step, not the whole road.

Taking a step of faith rarely feels comfortable. It often means choosing obedience before clarity. In life and in the work God places in our hands, that can look like moving forward when the path feels uncertain, trusting that He is already present in what comes next.

At Hope Walks, we see this lived out in very real ways. I think of families who arrive at the clinic unsure of what treatment will mean for their child, volunteers who say yes before knowing exactly how their time will be used, and supporters who respond in faith, trusting God to work through what may feel small or unseen. Step by step, God meets each act of obedience with provision, strength and hope.

If you find yourself standing at the edge of an uncertain decision today, take heart. Faith isn’t pretending you can see the future. It’s choosing to trust the One who already walks ahead of you.

God may not reveal the whole path, but He is faithful to guide each step along the way.

Prayer Lord, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. When the way ahead feels uncertain, steady my heart to trust Your Word and follow where You lead. Thank You for guiding each step. Amen.

Step of Action Each morning this week, begin your day with a simple prayer: “Lord, guide my steps today.” Walk through your day trusting that He is with you and leading the way.

By Christina Hamilton Director of Donor Engagement

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Week 2 - March 2

Steps of Surrender Trusting God with outcomes we cannot control

Scripture “Not my will, but yours be done.” — Luke 22:42 (NIV)

Reflection Jesus faced a tough choice: obeying God’s will to go and suffer on the cross, or obeying his flesh's comfort. He finally chose to abandon himself in the hands of God, who controls any outcome. The fantastic result was his resurrection (Acts 2:24), receiving the name above all others (Philippians 2:811), and becoming the sole source of salvation for all humanity (John 3:16; Romans 10:9).

As human beings, we also must choose between obeying God or obeying our human desires.

This reminds me of the choices our counselors and clinicians face when dealing with parents who are unsure about the treatment process. They may be tempted to be more forceful with parents, which could further alienate them. Instead, they consider their great mission to save each child from the burden of clubfoot, and pray to God for help as Jesus did.

This happened at Schiphra Hospital: one child’s father was reluctant to have his child undergo a tenotomy, fearing there would be complications. After seeking God’s help by prayer, the staff simply educated him about a tenotomy and let him go. Counselors Luc and Marc continued to pray and communicate without pressure. Two weeks later, they came back to receive the tenotomy. This child is currently doing well, a joyful outcome when we surrender control to God (Romans 12:1-2).

Prayer Father, help me in harsh situations to overcome the flesh and abandon myself in your hands, so I can bear fruit that lasts (John 15:5-8). Amen.

Step of Action Pray for our staff in Burkina, so they can continuously abandon themselves to God’s perfect will to serve children born with clubfoot.

By Dr Oubda B.A.K. Faïçal Program Manager, Burkina Faso

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Week 3 - March 9

Steps of Compassion Seeing others through Christ’s eyes

Scripture “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

Reflection Every week, I meet parents and children arriving at our clinics carrying more than just medical needs.

They bring deep worries, invisible wounds, and sometimes a sense of isolation. Even before treatment begins, one thing makes a difference: being seen, heard and welcomed with compassion.

Jesus’ compassion teaches us to see differently. He didn’t just see the illness or the struggle. He saw the person behind it. He stopped, took time, and entered into the reality of the other. To see through Christ’s eyes is to recognize each person’s dignity and walk alongside them, even when the path is difficult.

Lent reminds us that compassion is not just a feeling; it is a concrete commitment. Carrying another’s burden means sharing a bit of their pain so they are not alone. In our service, every act of compassion becomes a step toward healing not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.

When we choose compassion, our way of serving changes. We are no longer simply doing work; we participate in Christ’s work, restoring, uplifting and bringing hope.

Prayer Lord Jesus, teach us to see others with Your loving eyes. Help us carry burdens with compassion and humility. Amen.

Step of Action Today, take a moment to truly listen to someone facing difficulty and lift them up to God in prayer.

By Vincent Semu Sikulimwenge Counseling Program Coordinator, The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Week 4 - March 16

Steps of Restoration God’s work of healing and renewal

Scripture “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Reflection God always has a plan of Restoration. When man fell, He had a plan of restoring him back to Himself through Jesus Christ.

Restoration begins with giving our lives to the Lord (2 Cor. 5:17), forgetting the former things and focusing on Jesus (Isaiah 43: 18-19) through childlike faith and trust. We cannot move on if we keep dwelling on our past sins, mistakes, hurts, disappointments or betrayals. Even when we fall out of fellowship with God due to sin, we can repent and get back into fellowship. The Bible says there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Life is full of challenges, temptations, ups and downs, and we do not always have control of what happens, but the good news is that we can always turn to the Lord.

I am always amazed to see and hear how families are restored and united again when they see their children, who were once disabled by clubfoot, receive help and have their legs corrected. Husbands who left their spouses come back; relatives who accused the mothers of children with clubfoot of doing something wrong come around. All these speak of God’s restoring power.

Prayer Lord Jesus, may we be open and accepting of your restorative power in our lives. Amen.

Step of Action Today, take a step toward restoration in a failed or struggling relationship.

By Benson Mwenya Counseling Program Coordinator, Zambia

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Week 5 - March 23

Steps of Hope Hope that sustains us through suffering

Scripture “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength;” — Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Reflection Every day, around the world, we see people arrive weary—tired bodies, wounded hearts, and hopes weakened by pain and uncertainty. Suffering takes many forms, but its weight is universal. In the midst of these realities, hope can seem fragile, almost invisible. Yet it is precisely there that God acts with the greatest tenderness.

During Lent, we remember that Jesus walked the path of suffering before the resurrection. He did not avoid pain; He went through it. Along that journey, He showed us that true hope does not depend on the absence of difficulties, but on trust in God. Isaiah reminds us that those who hope in the Lord receive renewed strength, even when their own strength has run out.

In everyday life, this hope is revealed through small acts: getting up one more time, taking a step when it seems impossible, sitting quietly with someone, or believing that the story is not over. Each step sustained by faith is a testimony that God is still at work, even in the midst of suffering.

Christian hope does not ignore pain; it transforms it. It sustains us today and leads us toward the promise of new life that God is already preparing.

Prayer Lord, in the midst of weariness and suffering, renew our strength. Help us to trust in You and to walk in hope, even when the road is difficult. Amen.

Step of Action Pray today for those who are experiencing physical or emotional pain, and ask God to sustain them with His hope.

By Ivelisse Sanchez Program Coordinator, The Dominican Republic

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Holy Week - March 30

Walking in Freedom The cost of healing and the gift of freedom through Christ

Scripture “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

— Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Reflection Years ago, I was in darkness, far from God. I grew up with one goal: to do enough good works to be saved on the day of the resurrection. But despite all my devotion, I had no assurance, and I wasn't even free to think or act, nor was I capable of loving. By giving my life to Christ, I feel free today. This freedom is necessary to be strong and able to forgive, love and help others.

For Jesus gives true freedom and rest for our lives: I no longer fight for a paradise of which I am now a citizen.

God can do the same in your life and in the lives of others. Come, taste, and see: There is joy and true peace in Christ.

Prayer Lord, I heard your voice years ago, came to you, deposited my burden before you, and you set me free. Let all the ones coming to our clinics hear your voice calling for them to experience life of freedom under your kingship in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Step of Action Pray for all the clinics facing security challenges so that the children can be treated.

By Moussa Yahaya Program Manager, Niger

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Good Friday - April 3

Steps for the Future Keeping our eyes on the eternal

Scripture “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” — Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Reflection As human beings, we often live consumed by the concerns of daily life. We focus on meeting legitimate needs such as shelter, food and health, yet many times we neglect what truly matters most: our spiritual well-being. This spiritual health not only sustains us in this life, but also has eternal significance.

Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, is meant to be a sacred time to pause, reflect and examine our hearts. However, it often becomes one of the times when we least meditate on what we are truly commemorating: the greatest sacrifice of our beloved Savior on the cross. Jesus endured the cruelest death—the death on a cross—to give us life and eternal hope.

Today, as followers of Christ, we must ask ourselves: what are we doing with that hope? Many times, we become so busy with church activities that we place those who have lost all hope in the background. We are called to go after those who are outside the fold and remind them that our true hope is not in what we see, but in the glorious return of our Lord.

Even in the midst of difficulties and lack, let us trust in God’s plans. His plans are greater than ours and are designed not only for this time, but for eternity.

Prayer Lord, we lift up those who have lost all hope. Touch their hearts and show them the path to You. Teach us to live with steady faith, praying at all times and meditating on Your Word, which fills us with encouragement and hope. Help us to manage our time wisely and to reflect You in all that we do.

Amen.

Step of Action Today, think about the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all of us so we may live eternity in communion with him.

By Yanina Altagracia Peguero Parent Advisor at Darío Contreras Hospital, The Dominican Republic

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Easter Sunday - April 5

Walking in New Life Resurrection, renewal and lasting hope

Scripture “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

— Matthew 28:6 (NIV)

Reflection Easter morning begins with a surprising message: He is not here. The tomb meant to hold death became the place where hope was reborn. For the women who came expecting grief, resurrection interrupted their expectations. God often does the same with us.

In everyday life, resurrection is not only about eternity—it is about how God meets us in places that feel closed, heavy or final. In our ministry, we walk alongside families burdened by fear, uncertainty or long seasons of hardship, many believing their situation will never change. And yet we witness small resurrections: a child taking a first step after treatment, a parent smiling again after months of worry, or a family finding hope where they had almost given up.

Resurrection often shows up quietly. It looks like starting again after failure, trusting again after disappointment or believing again after doubt. It is God’s gentle reminder that no situation is beyond His power. Just as the stone was rolled away, God removes what blocks us from new life—fear, shame, worry and sin.

Easter invites us to walk differently. Because Christ is risen, we are no longer defined by what once held us captive. We are called to live as people of victory—not perfection, but freedom.

Walking in new life means choosing to believe that God is still at work, even when we cannot see outcomes. The empty tomb tells us God keeps His promises and that new life is always possible.

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of Your resurrection. Help us to walk in the new life You offer, trusting You in every season. Renew our hearts with hope and courage for each new day. Amen.

Step of Action This week, think of someone who is walking through a difficult season and remind them that resurrection and new beginnings are still possible in Christ’s name.

By Bishaza Aristide Counseling Program Coordinator, Burundi

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

Hope Walks Lenten Devotional 2026

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