Does He Care?
Let me take you back to 2015…it is Sunday morning and attending church for Todd and I had become our new norm. After many many decades of Sunday mornings just being about anything but church…like sleeping in, travel, exercise, football tailgating or nursing a hangover from the night before – we had started to change thanks to Jesus!! We are now different, we are church goers, committed to serving and worshiping our God each Sunday morning – Praise 
We loved our new norm. 
Fast forward 6 years to 2021 and our church life norm changes quickly and dramatically. We no longer attend the church that had become our home, I had no idea life was about to emotionally spiral as hard as it did.
So…the questions started swarming in my head – So what do we do now? Does God really even care where I go to church? Will my church friends still be my friends outside of church? What will Sunday be like now? How could God let this happen?
Have you ever gone there in your mind with questions like this during times of struggle, hurt or heaviness? It is real my friends and our emotions and thoughts can run wild – thank goodness for God.
Through our journey of leaving and attempting to find a new church it had been way harder than I thought it would be. Furthermore, after leaving I learned of many Christians who have gone through church separations. I was amazed at the stories and honestly shocked at all the division and a bit naïve people would act this way in church. (Another blog for another time). It is tough to leave, it can be hurtful and I would not wish it on anyone…BUT please know this – our God does care, He really really does care for us even in these type of struggles.
I honestly feel a book on the lessons God taught me through this 2 year journey will happen one day! For example…the closing of my teaching/ speaking mouth in Women’s Ministry made me feel like a failure and I had failed God and His purpose for me – but then He opened my mouth within the workplace to glorify Him through training and coaching many, some who don’t even know the Lord! He is amazing. He is in control. He has a plan. Nothing like shining for God outside of the church walls.
I have been reminded often by a close mentor at work that we have to look back to see what progress we have made forward. Writing this blog has helped me do just that! When we are in the struggle or hurt we can’t always see where God is taking us, but if we have rooted faith in Him then He will move us forward to glorify Him.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
Well…I surely do love Him and desire to do His will – with my whole heart. And through all of this, I can testify that God does care if we are up or down, depressed or happy, shining or hiding. He does care if we worship Him and He wants us to give Him the glory vs us trying to be glorified. This was my ah ha and I love ah ha moments with God!!!
After leaving our local church we found ourselves on an island – separated from our church family and the people we love – our Sunday morning norm was no more. The mourning process of loss was great. Through time and prayer, God showed me that we need to get to know Him deeper and we need Him the most! People may fail or disappoint us but God never will!! It is not who He is, his character will not allow it. Learning sometimes is painful – through much loss and many tears God taught me that we can not live for or try to please man, but only live for and try to please Him. #totalsurrender
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corn 10:31
We will emotionally struggle through hard times in life and may feel like we lost, we failed, we did not earn God’s favor and we plainly are just not good enough.
But… we need to give this stinkin’ thinkin’ over to God. He does not love us only if we win and prosper or speak and volunteer – He loves us all the time, even in our messes. His love is unconditional you all! The great thing about God is He lets us make choices in life, He gives us free will to live. Some roads we choose lead to pain and some to joy, we are not perfect by any means but HIS LOVE IS! Being a child of God and being rooted in Him has shown me that everything should lead to us glorifying Him and abiding in His love – period!
Thankfully the desire to keep deepening my relationship with Him is as strong as ever. My “church” life does look different and has changed completely and we have a new norm. Also my church friend groups have shrunk tremendously and change did occur in relationships – but one thing has remained the same…my God! He has blessed me with a husband who loves and protects me, my incredible children, my precious grand babies and a core group of close friends who I do life with! Also- what a blessing Heather (my forever core bestie) and I get to write encouragement weekly to working Christian women and glorify God through our Rooted blogs!
God get’s all the glory!
Thank you God for continually transforming me and guiding me in a very difficult time through your Holy Spirit! Thank you for caring. I am so grateful to be a child of yours.
Hoping this encourages someone who has experienced church separation or any other major struggle or hurt in their life.
God does care!
Stay Rooted,
Lisa & Heather
