I wrote a post here a couple of months ago when I was in huge, continuing anguish and upset about church (see: https://testimonyshare.com/not-belonging/). A number of people kindly replied and prayed. I want to write an update here about how good the Lord has been to me.
I found it very difficult to do, but I made the decision to stop going to church and haven’t gone for a number of weeks. Since I made that decision, I am so full of joy! Songs of praise to God just rise up in me for freeing me from this terrible burden. It has been weighing me down for a long long time. The Lord has been so close to me. His presence is so sweet to me, and His Word. The Holy Spirit is blessing me so much in the Word of God, showing me how real and dependable the Love of God is, that He loves me in spite of my being unable to fit in and belong with people in church.
What an amazing kind, good, generous Father we have! His ways are so much beyond ours. I feel like I’m alive again, that I have something to look forward to. It has always been my greatest dream as a Christian to walk as close to the Lord in this life as is possible, to know Him as well as it is possible to know Him in this life. He is GOOD!
There are no words to explain how understanding, wise and kind He is. I am glad that He will rule and reign over everything for ever and ever. I am so glad that He cared about us all down here so much, that He didn’t send His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to condemn us, but to save us. He wants us all to be saved. Everyone. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost.
I don’t know what will happen in the future, will I go back to a different church? I don’t feel able at the moment. The whole thing has been a battering, bruising experience. When I’ve had time to heal, maybe I will. But I trust in the Lord. He is faithful and He will show me what to do.
Today as I write this it is a Saturday… and I’m enjoying it, praise God! Normally Saturdays I felt low and upset, dreading church the next day. Each Sunday I felt like half a person.
But God says, “You don’t have to be accepted by people to be accepted by me! I LOVE you… to me your voice is sweet and your face is lovely”. He shows such cherishing love.
I love You Lord!
Hi Joy, the Bible says that we should not forsake the gathering of the saints. I can’t imagine that God will go against His Word and tell you it is okay not to attend services for that is where you get your spiritual food. If you can let me know where you live, I can see if there is a sister church to which I go to near you where they preach the full Word of God in Love. We should not serve God with our feelings. I want to ask you to evaluate your feelings and see from which source it comes. If it does not line up with the Word, get rid of it. I will be praying for you. Love..Zoe
Zoe, please read Joys previous post and the comments.
Joy, I maintain that when you have received Christ,you ARE the church..a member of the Universal body of Christ.
I believe that NOW you have the joy of the spirit. HE will lead you to necessary fellowship. Dont let the devil torment you with unecessary thoughts..he is the author of confusion and haste, the Lord brings true peace…quote the word of God especially “I will be still and know Jehovah is God” “His grace is sufficient for me” At the same time keep praying for the Holy Spririt to guide you as per His will pertaining to this particular situation in your life.
Praising God for leading you out of tribulation and into HIS peace…Amen. Hallelujah
Joy! I share in both of the 2 comments prior to mine.It is true what Zoe says about not forsake the gathering of the saints. But, after reading your posts, I’m sure that is not your intention. You surely are in a phase where God is preparing you for something.I know you will join in gatherings where God is glorified.God use pastors and ministers etc. in order to lead and guide us according to His Word. Being together in fellowship with others, who also worship God, is strengthening us in many ways! In and through this way we share in the joy and hardship of each other and we can join in prayer and thanksgiving etc!
I agree with Cheeryleesa and believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding you. Sometimes we have to “run” for moments of silence away from everything around us. During that moment we may run away and hide away but… it is not because we want to run away forever, it is just because we need “some” silence, where we can just get our minds together! God uses these moments so that we can get quiet before Him and hear His voice better. Sometimes these moments come without us actually looking for them, but…God knows the best. Joy, I believe in your case, this period is very important and take care and listen clearly! Once you are shown the truth and learned from it, you will be taken to where you belong , the place where God want you to shine His light but also very important , where you can grow and bear even more fruit for Him! God bless you all, my sisters! We are not perfect in ourselves but God’s Word is the true guide and wow….He loves us so dearly!
Praise our Heavenly Lord Jesus Christ! May we all learn and listen, for we are instruments shaped to God’s hands and He uses each one of us to fulfill His tasks – because we are all part of one body in Jesus Christ! Unto Him be all glory power and praise for ever and ever! Amen
Hi Joy, I have not read your previous post but I am going to but even before I do, I just want you to know that pietergabriel says sometimes the Holy Spirit leads us away from the crowd just to be alone with him, because sometimes we are too busy playing church and going through all the rituals required that we lose fellowship with him at other times however and this is something I have personally experienced you feel that I you are actually not having any fellowship with the people in your church. It happened to me recently when travelled back to my home country, I went to church once and I couldn’t feel any fellowship at all, and so for 2 months I stayed home every Sunday. Sometimes depending with how God is dealing with you depending on where He is taking from and taking you to, many people might find you very strange. So do what you feel the spirit is leading you to do.
Be blessed my sister and may that beautiful fellowship you are having with our Father never end.
Churches can be manipulated by its administrators at any point of time in the present day scenario. Nonetheless, prayers get us close to the presence of God in the most pure form. It is obvious to miss Church on sundays if u have been a regular churchgoer
Hi Joy
Even if you do not physically attend church, there are many church services broadcast live on tv or online, you could worship with them in the comfort and privacy of your home. Just be sure to ask the Lord’s guidance on which of them to join or watch.
Dear Brother & Sisters,
Many thanks for your thoughts & prayers. May the Lord continue to richly bless you all… Imagine! He has already given us “everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1;3)!
I appreciate all your encouragement and correction. Thank you Zoe_Selah, I sincerely do not have the intention of “forsaking the assembling together of believers”. This verse greatly encourages me; it reassures me it is the Lord’s plan & will that (by His grace and in His time) I will find a church to which I can belong and take part. Even the same church that I am on a break from at the moment.
If anyone does read my testimony of the Lord’s kindness and goodness, I do not intend to give the message that it is ok to “forsake the assembling together of the believers”. Your post will remind of that.
My church is a good church that preaches the Word of God in love… I am very well aware the problem is me (if you would read my previous post).
But the Lord is always faithful, even if the trials and struggles we experience don’t make sense to us. How great He is! One of my favourite verses is:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3;5)
Cheeryleesa, dear sister, thank you for once again encouraging me in the Lord :0) I really appreciate your previous posts and your post on this page. I am praying for the Lord’s guidance in this situation. Your words were words from the Holy Spirit.
Thank you Flavia, I do listen to online sermons :0) Rhoda, it is true we can become busy “playing church” or also that it may not be a place of fellowhip. The best thing is to always seek the Lord in this.
As Pietergabriel wrote, the church is for strengthening us, we can also praise and worship together. I’m looking forward to that. In the meantime how sweet it is to spend time with the Lord.
“I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
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.
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.[c]
The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.”
(Psalm 145 verses 1-14)