By Cathie Ostapchuk

As we come toward the final weeks of Lent, I find myself reflecting on the journey we have been on in The Studio this year.

Nineteen women (and four stunning coaches) said yes to something that is not easy to describe in a sentence - a nine-month journey toward greater wholeness in their lives and leadership. It wasn’t about building platforms or perfecting strategies. It was about paying attention to the deeper work God might be doing in us.

And as we gathered in our final virtual session, something beautiful happened.

We reminded each other where we have come from.

Because if you only look at today, it can sometimes feel as though you are not moving very far. The questions are still there. The future is not entirely clear. The work of leadership and life continues to unfold in ways we cannot fully predict.

But when we pause and look back - even just a few month - we begin to see movement.

Confidence is rising in places where uncertainty once dominated.

Intentions are becoming clearer. What once felt scattered is slowly coming into focus.

And perhaps most importantly, there is a renewed sense of hope - the quiet realization that the gifts we carry may actually be gifts God intends to use for good in the world.

This is part of the formation happening among these women.

Not loud transformation. Not dramatic announcements.

But steady, grounded change.

In these final weeks of Lent, I think this is what many of us are learning: we do not need to have the entire future mapped out in order to keep walking faithfully.

What we need is vision.

Not a detailed blueprint, but a clear sense of the direction God is inviting us toward — something steady enough to keep us grounded in the unknowing between now and resurrection. We talked about how vision needs to be aligned with strategy and strategy needs to be aligned with prayer. We talked about committing to the Spirit-led vision with total commitment but then with hands holding it loosely. We talked about the need to commit to the long obedience in the direction of our vision but be open to detours when God asks us to surrender our plans to His. This is the adventure and sacrifice of leadership.

There is still a long road ahead. For these women. For all of us.

But we are not walking it alone.

One of the quiet truths of Lent is that Jesus is closer to us than we think. The veil between heaven and earth is thinner than we often realize. His presence is nearer than our anxious minds sometimes allow us to believe.