Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter and is a particularly important time for many Christians around the world, particularly those within the Catholic tradition. Christians around the world observe Lent in different ways, with many choosing to give up things in order to refocus their faith.

This year, Pope Francis made an appeal to Catholics to turn away from trolling while speaking to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square on Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40-day Lenten season.

“This is a time to give up useless words, gossip, rumors, tittle-tattle and speak to God on a first name basis,” Francis said.

“We live in an atmosphere polluted by too much verbal violence, too many offensive and harmful words, which are amplified by the internet,” he said. “Today, people insult each other as if they were saying ‘Good Day.'”

Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, where He confronted and endured the Devil’s temptation.

This forty day period is a time of fasting, repentance and preparation for the coming of Easter and often marked with people choosing to give up something, or volunteer to aid in helping others.

Many Christians struggle through Lent because they focus on what they’re giving up, not on building up their relationship with God.

Individuals who celebrate Lent often think of it as a dreary season of self-denial and restraint. While denying yourself is an aspect of Lent, this notion doesn’t capture the full picture of what the season is really about.

Nothing’s wrong with giving up chocolate for Lent, but you have to ask yourself if what you’re giving up is really separating you from having your best relationship with God, and after this period, how did you grow in your relationship with Him?