Church Healedনমুনা

AWARENESS

For many years, I was bitter and angry at God for the hurt and betrayal I experienced within the church. Seeing leaders fall into moral failure and feeling used and abused left me disillusioned. It took me five years to heal. During the healing process the Lord taught me that even though the hurt was not my fault, it was my responsibility to decide what to do with the pain. It’s your responsibility to forgive, to heal, to recognize that you are hurt, and to acknowledge that this pain is better surrendered at the Lord’s feet.

Healing is difficult but worthwhile. If you're struggling, continue leaning into God's process. You're on the right path, and I'm proud of you for choosing to heal. Many leaders repeat harmful behaviors they learned, perpetuating hurt. Healing ourselves stops this cycle and helps others heal. Remember, church hurt comes from broken people, not God. We often mistakenly blame God for the church's flaws.

God is present in the church but He is not the church itself. The church is composed of imperfect people. Even Jesus faced hurt from religious leaders, yet responded with truth and love, never letting bitterness take root. We should strive to respond as He did, forgiving those who hurt us.

It's crucial to distinguish between God's character and the failings of church people. God is compassionate, gracious, and faithful, working to mend this broken world. We need to reconnect with Him, our loving Father, who desires to heal us.

Self-awareness is the first step in healing. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of hurt and offense in your heart. Healing is ongoing, and God is always with you. Speak to Him openly, use prayers, journal your feelings, and seek counseling if needed. If God healed me, He can heal you too!

Friend, God does not want you to walk through this process alone. He desires you to come to Him with your raw and vulnerable thoughts and emotions. Talking to God is crucial in your healing journey. Therefore, I have included prayers to assist you in navigating the feelings and emotions that arise as you read. I encourage you to vocalize these prayers, journal your feelings, and seek guidance from a counselor if necessary.

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father,

Thank You, Father, for this moment. Thank You for the healing that You are already doing in my heart. Father, I recognize that I have been hurt by the church, not by You. In this moment I ask for forgiveness for holding all those leaders, people, and pastors to a standard that was not godly. I pray that You would help me to see those who have hurt me as You see them. I recognize that I have let the hurt affect the way I see You, God. I recognize that the hurt that others have caused has affected the way that I serve You and love others. I accept Your forgiveness, I accept Your grace, and I accept Your love and mercy. Thank You, Father, for this season of healing. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Journal Prompts

• In what ways have I allowed the hurt I’ve experienced within the church to negatively affect my relationship with the Lord?
• In what ways has the hurt I’ve experienced affected others?