Starting the Process of Healing From Church Hurtਨਮੂਨਾ

Seeking Refuge in a New Community

Experiencing church hurt may lead you to give up on the church altogether. But from the foundation of the world, God has made it clear that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18 NIV). Even God has never been alone, with the Trinity being an eternal relationship bound together in love for one another. Community is the context for the one thing we were made for: love.

If we want to grow into people of love, then we need relationships. We cannot love in isolation. As Thomas Merton put it, “Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone—we find it with another.”

Now, you may want to continue growing spiritually, choosing to consume content rather than commit to a community. But the reality is that books and podcasts can only take us so far. They’re supplements, and we need surgery.

Deep, lasting change, including healing from church hurt, comes from the work of the Holy Spirit, often in the form of people.

In Mark 2, we see the healing power of a Christlike community. Jesus was teaching in a home when so many people gathered that there was no room for others. We then see four friends, desperate to reach Jesus, get creative.

Four people were carrying their paralytic friend on his mat. Since they couldn’t reach Jesus through the crowds, they made their own way by removing the roof. The next part of the story is remarkable:

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (Mark 2:5 NIV).

Jesus then went on to heal the man physically so he could take up his mat and walk home.

Notice Jesus saw and moved on behalf of the friends’ faith, not the paralytic’s. We aren’t told how the paralytic on the mat felt. He may not have brought any faith to the moment. All we know is that he had four friends who were willing to take their hurt friend to Jesus.

We all need friends who can bring faith to moments when it’s hard for us to believe. Friends who are willing to carry us to Jesus when we feel like we can’t move.

Though it might feel safer to give up on church and to stay on your mat, you were made for more. You were made to walk with Jesus.

Jesus, I want to trust again, but I’m scared. Help me discern where it’s safe to be seen, and show me the people who will carry me to you. Give me the faith to believe that healing is still possible, and the courage to embrace a community that loves me and you.

Prayer

Jesus, I want to trust again, but I’m scared. Help me discern where it’s safe to be seen, and show me the people who will carry me to you. Give me the faith to believe that healing is still possible, and the courage to embrace a community that loves me and you.

Reflection

1. What keeps you from trusting others in a spiritual community again?
2. What qualities would a safe, Christlike community have for me right now?
3. Who are the “mat-carrying” friends I can lean on right now, or who might God be inviting me to seek out?