I’m sorry the church hurt you. . .

Dear Woman,

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry if the church hurt you.

I’m sorry is someone representing the church hurt you. If no one has told you, I’m sorry.

I’m sorry because I know this hurt personally.

I know what it’s like to fight the devil completely alone on the bathroom floor.

I know what it’s like to physically not be able to pull yourself together.

I know what it’s like to be the center of gossip.

I know what it’s like to be judged without a single question asked.

I know what it’s like to be treated so coldly.

I know what it’s like to be failed by the standards and expectations set by the church.

I know what it’s like to be abandoned when the devastating, hard things happens in life.

And now I know why people leave the church.

When everyone is singing about Jesus leaving the 99 to save the 1 they forget that sometimes THEY are the army He sends out.

Where people fail He is there holding true to His promise to never leave or forsake you.

I also know that the church is made up of people, imperfect people that fall short.

They are not Jesus.

If you have been hurt by the church I am sorry but please do not let that starve you from having a relationship with Him.

Something beautiful became of this hurt that I went through that changed my initial reaction to life when the hard stuff happens.

But something has to change because not all people have a faith as strong as mine was and is when I was hurt by the church. I knew who to cry out to when no one showed up. But not everyone has that strength. We are called to be His disciples which means to some extend we do not get to pick and choose who we show up for as the church.

The hurt that happened to you could be the perspective for change for the next person that walks through that church.

Please don’t lose faith.

Megan Hardwick

Dear Woman, Ministries