Devotional Day 24: Healing from Church Hurt
Scripture:
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
Reflection:
Let’s be honest—sometimes the deepest wounds come from inside the church. I’ve heard stories of betrayal, judgment, and hypocrisy that break my heart. Maybe you have one of those stories. It’s tempting to walk away and say, “If this is what Christians are like, I don’t want any part of it.”
But here is the hard truth: The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. It is full of broken people in the process of healing, which means we sometimes hurt each other. While we should never excuse abuse or toxic behavior, we are called to a radical kind of grace. We forgive not because the other person deserves it, but because we know how much Jesus has forgiven us. Don’t let the failures of people keep you from the family of God. Healing happens in community, even an imperfect community.
Prayer:
Jesus, You know the hurts I carry from Your people. Please heal my heart. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me, and give me the courage to trust the Church community again. Amen.