Church is Hard!

Let us not give up meeting together,

as some are in the habit of doing,

but let us encourage one another…

Hebrews 10:25 

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 with 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 lyrics.

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

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..

But, here is the beauty of church—

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

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.

So even on the hard days at church—

I’ll remember…

He has never failed to meet me there.