25-331 — Healing From Church Hurt

Today we’re diving into one of the most sensitive, raw, and spiritually dangerous experiences a believer can face:Church hurt.Not the hurt that comes from the world.Not the hurt that comes from enemies.But the kind that comes from the people of God.A pastor who disappointed you.A leader who mishandled you.A friend who betrayed you.A community that didn’t show up.A ministry that forgot you.A church that judged you more than loved you.This isn’t theoretical pain.This is pain that hits the soul like a hammer.And for many believers — pain inflicted inside the church burns far deeper than pain inflicted outside it.But here’s the truth God whispered to me when I walked through my own season of broken trust:“I can heal you from wounds My people caused — but you must bring them to Me.”Let’s walk it out.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Psalm 147:3 (ESV)“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”📖 TEACHINGChurch hurt is uniquely painful because:* You trusted deeply.* You expected differently.* You believed the best.* You opened your heart.And the place that was supposed to heal you ended up hurting you.But here’s the truth you must grab today:People can misrepresent God —But people can never replace God.Your pastor isn’t your Savior.Your church isn’t your Healer.Your leaders aren’t your Redeemer.Your community isn’t your foundation.Only Jesus holds that role.Church hurt becomes spiritual poison when the wound pushes you away from the Healer instead of toward Him.The enemy knows this — which is why he uses offense as a tool to isolate believers.But God’s Word says He binds up wounds — meaning He doesn’t ignore them… He wraps His hands around them.The hurt is real, but so is the healing.Brother…I’ve walked through church hurt.Times I felt judged.Times I felt misunderstood.Times I felt tossed aside.Times I felt shame rise from things leaders mishandled.Times when my own mistakes became the whole story and grace felt silent.There were nights when I sat with God and said,“Lord, is there still a place for me in Your people?”And every time…Every single time…His whisper cut through the fog:“They hurt you — but I never did.”That truth saved me.And God used Michelle’s journey to deepen it.She has carried weights that most people never see.Chronic pain… loss… exhaustion… betrayal… disappointment…Seasons where she poured out and got very little poured back in.Times where friendships dissolved, ministries faltered, leaders failed her trust.But she never let the wound turn her heart hard.Michelle taught me something vital:Church hurt can either make you bitter… or it can make you humble, wise, and compassionate. Your response decides which.Watching her love people even when she was exhausted…Watching her stay faithful when community was scarce…Watching her show grace when she had the right to withdraw…It showed me what healed hearts actually look like.Not perfect.Not naïve.Not boundary-less.But whole.🛠️ LIVING APPLICATIONIf you want to heal from church hurt:* Bring your wound to God first.Not social media.Not the gossip circle.Not the echo chamber.* Remember the church is made of people — not perfection.* Forgiveness is not pretending nothing happened — it’s releasing what’s killing you.* Community is still God’s design — don’t abandon the blueprint because of flawed builders.* Let God redefine your trust, one step at a time.* You can set boundaries without building walls.📅 DAILY ACTIONPray this simple prayer today:“Lord, show me where the wound is… and show me how to let You touch it.”Write down whatever He reveals.🏋️ PRACTICEMake one step toward healing today:* Write a letter you never send.* Pray for the person who hurt you.* Reconnect with a believer who is safe.* Read Scripture that restores hope.Small steps create spiritual momentum.⚔️ CHALLENGE OF THE WEEKDeclare this over your heart:“My hurt will not define my faith. Jesus will.”🙏 PRAYERFather, I place every wound from Your people into Your hands.Heal what was broken.Restore what was damaged.Silence the lies that grew out of hurt.Give me wisdom, courage, and grace.Teach my heart how to trust again — not blindly, but biblically.Make me whole, and use my healing to help others heal.In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe