Borrowed from a friend…

CHURCH IS HARD.

Church is hard for the person walking through the doors, afraid of judgement.

Church is hard for the pastor’s family, under the microscope of an entire body.

Church is hard for the prodigal soul returning home, broken and battered by the world.

Church is hard for the girl who looks like she has it all together, but doesn’t.

Church is hard for the couple who fought the entire ride to service.

Church is hard for the single mom, surrounded by couples holding hands, and seemingly perfect families.

Church is hard for the widow and widower with no invitation to lunch after service.

Church is hard for the deacon with an estranged child.

Church is hard for the person singing worship songs, overwhelmed by the weight of the lyrics.

Church is hard for the man insecure in his role as a leader.

Church is hard for the wife who longs to be led by a righteous man.

Church is hard for the nursery volunteer who desperately longs for a baby to love.

Church is hard for the single woman and single man, praying God brings them a mate.

Church is hard for the teenage girl, wearing a scarlet letter, ashamed of her mistakes.

Church is hard for the sinners.

Church is hard for me.

It’s hard because on the outside it all looks shiny and perfect. Sunday best in behavior and dress.

However, underneath those layers, you find a body of imperfect people, carnal souls, selfish motives.

But, here is the beauty of church—

Church isn’t a building, mentality, or expectation.

Church is a body.

Church is a group of sinners, saved by grace, living in fellowship as saints.

Church is a body of believers bound as brothers and sisters by an eternal love.

Church is a holy ground where sinners stand as equals before the Throne of Grace.

Church is a refuge for broken hearts and a training ground for mighty warriors.

Church is a converging of confrontation and invitation. Where sin is confronted and hearts are invited to seek restoration.

Church is a lesson in faith and trust.

Church is a bearer of burdens and a giver of hope.

Church is a family. A family coming together, setting aside differences, forgetting past mistakes, rejoicing in the smallest of victories.

Church, the body, and the circle of sinners-turned-saints, is where He resides, and if we ask, He is faithful to come.

So even on the hard days at church—

The days when I am at odds with a friend, when I’ve fought with my husband because we’re late once again. When I’ve walked in bearing burdens heavier than my heart can handle, yet masking the pain with a smile on my face. When I’ve worn a scarlet letter, under the microscope. When I’ve longed for a baby to hold, or fought tears as the lyrics were sung. When I’ve walked back in, afraid and broken, after walking away.

I’ll remember, He has never failed to meet me there.

This was copied from my cousin’s post and it was just to good not to share.

I know I have lost faith in the church because of past churches that I poured my heart, soul and life into only to be disappointed by humans in that church. As I have missed in my heart the fellowship that church brings and the fellowship with other believers of Christ, this helps to remind me the church is a body of humans of sinners. The church is not God and wasn’t intended to be perfect, so if you think you will ever find a perfect church or a bunch of perfect Christian’s you must 🛑 ✋ stop, right now because it will never happen. I have been to many churches in my life and not one is perfect. So stop trying to find one where when the Pastor preaches he never offends you or he always offends you, the songs sung aren’t what you like or the person in front of you sings too loud or says Amen to many times. Let yourself let the Lord speak to you move your heart with many emotions whether it be tears, smiles from ear to ear, laughter, shout of praise, prayers out loud. Just let God speak to you and listen to him, if he says move from the pew then move, pray at his altar then pray, sit and pray in your pew then sit. But I ask that in 2023 you just focus on your relationship with God and not man. Because if we all focused on our relationship with God he will lead us to others in the correct manner and we will all become servants of God!!!

Blessings to you all in 2023!!!