No matter what we do in life, as Christians, we face opposition. That resistance originates from multiple sources. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemy. Our sin nature pushes for attention, and we listen to it. Other times, the fallen world around us gets the better of us. And sometimes, Satan works to destroy us.
Church hurt is an especially challenging hurdle for many Christians, because it skews our view of, not only the church as a whole, but other Christians, ourselves, and even God. But why is church hurt so prevalent?
Yes, it’s a result of getting a bunch of imperfect people together in one place. But it’s also an avenue Satan uses to attempt to foil God’s plans for us.
I’m in a season of life where my church is looking for a new pastor. We loved and admired our previous one, but God made it clear to him it was time to retire. So, we, as a church body, are in that process of waiting on God to prepare both us and the man God has for us.
Over the past five or so years, I’ve gotten to grow past church hurt experiences and gain new perspective. I’ve gotten to see how Satan tried to derail me and many others through church hurt. He used other Christians to try to keep us from growing in Christ and learning how to use our gifts—for God and for others. He used other Christians to try to prevent us from filling vital roles in our churches. And he used other Christians to try to keep us from understanding God and His Word.
If I had allowed bitterness and anger to take over, I never would have been in a position to help my fellow church members during this transition period. And I certainly never would have seen the great blessings God has been giving us during this season of waiting.
When we refuse to be chained by church hurt and choose instead to lean on God for healing and strength, we take bold steps toward what God has for us. We become stronger, more resilient. We learn just how wonderful it is to be part of God’s church and to work to grow the Body of Christ, not for ourselves, but for the Christ who bought us with His blood.
If you’re going through church hurt or have recently come out of a church hurt situation, take time to be alone with God, and ask Him for guidance and perspective. He sees the big picture, and sometimes, He’ll give us glimpses of it just when we most need them.
About D. T. Powell:
D. T. Powell, author of the critically acclaimed, award-winning novel With Mercy’s Eyes, has delved into difficult subjects through fiction for over a decade. Her work in both fanfiction and original fiction showcases how God’s persistent light shines even through the darkest of moments. Her original short fiction has appeared in Writer’s Digest and various short story collections from small presses. Also, her many top-quality book reviews publish quarterly in Clean Fiction Magazine. She enjoys reading, playing pickleball, and the occasional video game. You can find her online as dtill359. Her favorite verse is Psalm 126:5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
