Church hurt is one of the deepest wounds a person can experience. When the place that was supposed to be a refuge becomes a source of pain, it can shake your faith to its core. You might find yourself questioning everything—God, the church, even yourself. But if you’ve been hurt by someone in the church, I want to remind you of this: Jesus is not the one who hurt you.
Almost everyone who has been part of a church has experienced church hurt to some degree. It’s bound to happen when you put imperfect people together in the same place for very long. And it can be devastating. I’ve been hurt, and I’m sorry to say that I’ve done some hurting. And having felt the effects of church hurt from both sides, I can tell you that I’ve discovered this to be true:
People will eventually fail you. Leaders can disappoint you. Churches might get it wrong. But Jesus remains faithful. He sees your pain, He grieves with you, and He invites you to find healing in Him.
Healing takes time. It might mean setting boundaries, processing your pain with wise counsel, or even stepping away for a season. But don’t let church hurt cause you to walk away from Jesus. Instead, let it push you closer to Him—the One who loves you, who died for you, and who will never fail you. And the One who can relate better than anyone.
Brandon Lake wrote a profound line in his song Coat of Many Colors:
“Sometimes your worst enemies turn out to be your brothers. I know you understand.”
He does… he was betrayed by one of his closest friends. So remember… Jesus gets it, and he’s not mad at you for the anger you feel, the doubt you’re wrestling with, the hesitation you’re battling, or the fear of being hurt again that has you paralyzed. He’s patient, he’s kind, and he’s good.
Trusting Jesus after church hurt doesn’t mean ignoring what happened. It means bringing your wounds to Him, allowing Him to restore what’s broken, and remembering that your faith was never meant to rest on imperfect people, but on a perfect Savior.
If you’re struggling to trust again, start with this simple prayer: Jesus, I’ve been hurt, and I don’t know how to move forward. But I don’t want to let my pain separate me from You. Heal my heart and help me trust You again.
You’re not alone. And your story isn’t over.