I’ve got to be honest with you friend. I don’t think the enemy wants you to read what I’m about to tell you tonight.

In fact, I bet he’s doing everything in his power get you to keep scrolling past this post and not even think twice about it. But you’re still reading, so we’ve already one upped him 😉

It’s Saturday night. Your kids are (mostly) in bed (there’s still that one who keeps coming out for another drink of water). You’re on the couch. Exhausted. Tomorrow is Sunday. It’s a chance to sleep in. To be at home with your family. To get stuff done. A chance to simply be. A DAY THAT DADGUMMIT, YOU DESERVE TO JUST BREATHE.

Don’t let the enemy fool you, friend. He wants you to think you need to stay home. He doesn’t want you to walk through the doors of that church. He wants you to stay stuck.

Now I know what you’re saying. “But Lauren, the kids are just so hard to deal with once we’re there. They won’t go to the nursery, they won’t sit through the service. We can’t even get out the door to get there on time!” I know it’s hard friend. But did you know that their little developing souls and yours are still worth taking to church, even when it’s hard? Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14

And I know that some of you are saying, “Yeah but Lauren I like to just sit at home and watch my church online. I don’t like going and being around all of those other people. At home it’s my church, my God. I don’t like other people telling me how to worship.” Oh but sweet friend, do you know that God DESIGNED you to worship and learn alongside other believers? Did you know that you were meant to crave community? “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42

And sweet friends, some of you have been so hurt by the church. Oh I’ve been there, too. “But Lauren I’m just so angry at the people at my old church, they hurt me!” I’m so sorry you’ve been hurt. But harboring anger and living in bitterness against one group of people who hurt you is just that. Anger at PEOPLE, not at the God Who STILL designed you to be with others and longs for intimacy with you in His house. I know you’ve been hurt, I know you’ve been wronged. And the enemy wants to use that as a foothold against you. But your God is greater than your hurt. There IS a place of worship waiting for you. Maybe tomorrow is your time to try again. “Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:20

And for you… oh this message is for you the most. The one who thinks that you’re not good enough to think you can even walk through those doors. “I’ve messed up so much. God will never want me. I’m too embarrassed to go to church.” Yes you… The one who thinks she’s too dirty, too messy, too full of shame. The one who feels insecure because she doesn’t know that much about the Bible. Satan wants to get to you so badly. He knows your past, he knows your insecurities, and he wants you to think that you’ll never be good enough for God…

Don’t you dare believe him for a second, girl friend.

The love of Christ has made you worthy -you are a child of God! And before the wrongs you made, before the pain you experienced, you were already so loved. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Don’t you see, friend? Church pews aren’t just full of perfect people living perfect lives. Church pews are full of lost souls living in brokenness just saying that we don’t have it all together but we know Who does.

Listen, going to church isn’t going to “save” you. Doing a bunch of rituals isn’t going to make you more holy in the eyes of God. Having noisy kids in the pew certainly isn’t going to deter God from loving you any less. And goodness, we all know that for one legit reason or another we can’t make it EVERY Sunday. But God wants it to be a priority, He wants you there tomorrow, friend, just as you are. Don’t let Satan win another Sunday.