Let me be honest. Sometimes I struggle with the church. There. I said it. I am a church worker and I struggle with the church. And here is why: I think that sometimes we forget who makes up the church.
Who is the average person that sits in the pew at church? Really...think about it....
Let me list who I am and who my friends are (without using names, of course): wounded, hurt, depressed, struggling with marriage, thinking they are the worst parent in the world, having a good day, so tired, questioning, hoping, praying, having a hard time believing, aging, wondering, wanting more, bored...
Do any of these fit you?
And yet, with all of this and more sitting out in the congregation, how do we answer it?
Sometimes the words we speak are so embedded into us, we do it without thinking. Sometimes the words wash over us in a way that is completely new. Sometimes...how do you finish the sentence?
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9
Do you need to hear this today? I do. I feel like I am in a rut sometimes. Going through the motions. I hear the words, but is there real compassion behind them? Does anyone really care about my needs? Do my needs really matter?
I care about yours. I would love to pray for you. To lift you up. What are you and are you not getting? Can we start praying for the church? Is it really doing what Jesus intended? To heal, to bring hope, to offer forgiveness?
Know this for certain. God created you with His heart full of love for you, Jesus came to rescue you from sin and chase after you when you are tempted to something other than Him and the Holy Spirit continually whispers in your ear that you are His.
You, dear friend, are completely taken care of. Life happens, hurt impacts us, questions arise, but that does not change Whose you are. Believe Him and His promises. He will never, ever leave you. Ever!
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