Do you feel loved?
This may be a question that shows up a lot at church. It may also be a question that you haven't put much time into. Perhaps it is something that you think about every day. Regardless of where we are, the love we experience matters a lot. Loneliness and anxiety can weigh on us. If we do not really believe we are loved, our lives can start to fall apart.
I was sitting in our church's basement recently leading a small group time for some of our youth. The students were sharing why they thought the church was important. Over and over, these kids spoke about the difficulties they faced in everyday life. None of them spoke about the need for religious doctrine or something along those lines. They all shared that they found belonging in the church by finding a community that supported them. They found friends here when they did not know if they would find people to relate to. They found confidence when they were supported by others. They found hope in a Savior who guides them through every situation. These are the things that mattered most to them.
I see this everywhere in the church. It doesn't matter if I am working with youth or older adults. Everyone needs to be able to find connection. This is exactly why this week's theme at Community Lutheran Church hits home for me. We are coming back to some of the big questions in our faith. We are going to consider God's Love, and we will be taking a deeper look at our feelings of worthiness. We are each called and claimed by Jesus Christ. God has conquered sin and death for us. However, our own doubt can still prevent us from seeing the love that surrounds us.
Today I hope we can all embrace God's Love. I hope we can take a step toward trusting our Savior who gave everything for us. May we all experience this love and share it with others.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
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