Church is hard for the person walking through the doors, afraid of judgment.
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 young wife who desperately longs for a baby to love.
Church is hard for the single woman and single man, praying God brings them a spouse.
Church is hard for the teenage girl, wearing a scarlet letter, ashamed of her sinful choices.
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, sinful souls, and selfish motives.
But, here is the beauty of the church—
The Church isn’t a building, mentality, or expectation.
The Church is a body.
The Church is a group of sinners, saved by grace, living in fellowship as saints.
The Church is a body of believers bound as brothers and sisters by the love of God.
The Church is a holy ground where sinful people stand as equals before the Throne of Grace.
The Church is a refuge for broken hearts and a training ground for mighty warriors.
The Church is a converging of confrontation and invitation, where sin is confronted and hearts are invited to seek restoration.
The Church is a lesson in faith and trust, a bearer of burdens and a giver of hope.
The Church is a family coming together, setting aside differences, forgiving past sins, rejoicing in the smallest of victories.
The Church, the body of Christ, and the circle of sinners-turned-saints, is where Christ resides, and if we ask, He is faithful to come.
So even on the hard days as we gather as the church—
The days when I am at odds with a friend, when I’ve fought with my spouse 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, Christ has never failed and will never fail to meet me there. Revelation 1:12-13, “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”
