Don't walk away, Draw Near

Don’t Walk Away—Draw Near

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the people who are slowly walking away from church.

Not because they don't love God.

Not necessarily because they have stopped believing.

But because somewhere along the way, they became hurt, disappointed, discouraged, offended, or simply tired.

And my heart hurts for them.

I know what it feels like to go through difficult seasons. I know what it feels like to be disappointed by people, to feel misunderstood, and to wonder why things happen the way they do. But through every season of my life, I've learned something that I don't want to forget:

People may disappoint you, but Jesus never changes.

That's why I want to say something today—not as someone who has everything figured out, but as someone who genuinely loves the Lord and loves His church.

Please don't walk away.
If you're hurt, come closer.
If you're discouraged, come closer.
If you're disappointed, come closer.
If you've been offended, come closer.
If you're tired, come closer.

Don't let what happened to you pull you away from the One who can heal you.

We are living in a time when I believe we should be drawing closer to the Lord—not farther away. Scripture tells us that as we see the day approaching, we should be encouraging one another and gathering together “so much the more.”

And that message feels especially important right now.

Because I see people pulling away when we desperately need to be pulling together.

I see people becoming distant when we need to be drawing near.

And I can't help but wonder:

What if the very time we are tempted to walk away is the time we need God—and His people—the most?

Don't Let Hurt Become Distance

Sometimes people leave because someone hurt them.

Sometimes they become disappointed in a leader. Sometimes they disagree with a decision. Sometimes they feel overlooked or unappreciated. Sometimes they become frustrated with people in the church.

And let's be honest—the church is made up of people.

People are imperfect. Leaders are imperfect. We are imperfect.

But our faith was never supposed to be built on the perfection of people.

Our faith is built on Jesus.

If you allow every disappointment with people to create distance between you and God, eventually the enemy will use that hurt to isolate you.

And isolation is dangerous.

When we stop gathering with God's people, stop worshiping, stop praying, stop reading His Word, and stop allowing others to encourage us, it becomes much easier to become spiritually cold.

What began as, “I just need some time away,” can eventually become years of distance.

Don't let a temporary hurt create a permanent distance from God.

We Are Not Living in a Time to Drift
Look around us.
We don't need another reason to become spiritually distracted.
We need to become spiritually awake.
Jesus told us to watch.

Paul warned us about the last days.

Scripture repeatedly calls us to remain faithful, steadfast, sober, watchful, and ready.

The answer isn't to retreat from God.
The answer is to run toward Him.
When the world gets darker, we need more light.
When confusion increases, we need more truth.
When fear increases, we need more faith.
When people are falling away, we need to hold on tighter.

When the culture pulls us in one direction, we need to know what the Word of God says and stand on it.

Come Closer

If you've been drifting, come back.
If you've been hurt, bring your hurt to Jesus.
If you've become discouraged, let the Lord strengthen you.
If you've been offended, don't allow offense to steal your relationship with God.

If you've stopped attending church, come home.
If you've stopped praying, start again.
If you've stopped reading your Bible, open it again.
If you've lost your joy, seek His presence again.
You don't have to have everything figured out before you come back.

You don't have to pretend that everything is okay.

Just come closer.
Jesus is still calling.
His arms are still open.
His mercy is still available.
His grace is still sufficient.
And His church still needs you.

Don't Go Away When You Should Be Drawing Near

We are living in a time when we need each other more than ever.

Don't allow disappointment to separate you from fellowship.
Don't allow offense to separate you from worship.
Don't allow people to separate you from Jesus.

Don't allow the imperfections of the church to make you forget the perfection of the Savior.

The answer isn't to walk away.

The answer is to draw closer.

Closer to Jesus.
Closer to His Word.
Closer to prayer.
Closer to worship.
Closer to the people of God.
Closer to the cross.
Closer than you've ever been before.

Because the Bible doesn't tell us to forsake assembling together because the day is approaching.

It tells us to do it “so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

So if you've been thinking about walking away, stop and reconsider.

If you've been drifting, turn around.
If you've been standing at a distance, come closer.
The days ahead aren't a time to move farther from God.
They're a time to get as close to Him as we possibly can.

Don't walk away.
Draw near.
Stay faithful.
Stay in His Word.
Stay on your knees.
Stay close to Jesus.

Because we don't know how much time we have—but we do know this:
Jesus is coming again.

And when He comes, I want to be found faithful, watching, worshiping, and ready.