I'm just going to say it!

I'm just going to come out and say it. Being a Christian is a struggle and it has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. Following Jesus is the surest part, trying to share the Gospel with people coming off the backs of slavery, prosperity gospel, heavy doctrine, fallen Pastors, church hurt, unmet expectations, and the list goes on as to why people don't want to associate with Christianity is where it gets messy.

Honestly this is a heavy point of frustration for me. I want people to know so bad that their lives can chance, they can be free from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, generational curses, addiction, bitterness, anger, and unforgivness. I'm one who has been in church my entire life and I've experienced everything mentioned above from church people yet I stayed. I had my Pastor tell me I was pregnant at 18 because of the example set by my mother (this is the clean version). That was the farthest from the truth. A baseless claim by a man who knew absolutely nothing about me or my up bringing. I was pregnant because I was having unprotected sex outside of marriage lets be real. That conversation hurt me so bad that my Pastor who I esteemed would assume such things and not take the moment to tell me that God loves me in spite of my sin and that I am redeemable. Trust me I get it. I didn't stay at that church much longer but I stayed in church and I still believed God. Could it be power in staying?

In John 15:4-8 Jesus says ”Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.“

Through those difficulties with the church and church people I was still able to grow in Christ and experience freedom. Different freedoms at different stages of my walk with Christ. Believe me it doesn't happen over night. Just stay.

‭‭Satan knows the fragility of the human heart and if he can trick you out of relationship with God because of the actions of people he wins. The people never had the power that's why they were able to hurt you they're just as human as you. Yes church hurt is real but it's also a weapon of Satan to render you fruitless. You have to trust God to deal with his people and keep following Him with all your heart. If you've found yourself disconnected go back to church get back around church people but never forget they're only imperfect people working out their salvation just like you. It is God who has all power!