Sunday mornings are rough at our house. The pandemic, which brought the convenience of online church, created a new habit for us: no alarms, sleeping in, and staying in pajamas all day. While I’d still get up early for my run, there was no rush to shower—I could squeeze in a strength workout and stretch while we watched church. It was one less day of morning chaos.
But now, four years after pandemic restrictions lifted, we’re still struggling to get back into the routine of in-person church. It’s not easy. It feels like Satan is stirring up trouble every Sunday morning.
My youngest, who never sleeps in, suddenly does—on Sundays, of all days.
Someone in the family always seems to wake up with a cold or stomach issues.
The bathroom becomes the busiest place in the house, but no one is actually getting ready.
Arguments erupt over the smallest things, patience wears thin, and everyone’s on edge.
Sundays have turned into a battlefield. And the easiest route would be to give up, to accept online church as the norm and avoid the stress of trying to gather in person. But I’ve been convicted, again and again, by this passage:
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur
one another on toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another—
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I can’t ignore it. Even though getting to church is often a struggle, I know that showing up matters. The Bible is clear—meeting together is important. So, even if we’re running late, even if we’re grumpy, unshowered, and mentally unprepared, we’re making the effort to be there.
This morning, as I sat down to write this blog post, I was hit by a wave of irritation and overwhelm. Out of nowhere, I felt completely discouraged, like the walls were closing in. It felt like a spiritual attack, a reminder of the invisible battle we face.
But here’s the thing: just as I’m determined to show up at church on Sunday mornings, I’m telling Satan to back off as I write this. I will not let irritation or discouragement stop me from writing. I will continue to press on, because I believe that God is with us in this struggle, encouraging us to gather together, and to push through the obstacles in our way.
So, if you’re feeling this same struggle—if Sunday mornings at your house are chaos and frustration—I want to encourage you. Keep showing up. Keep fighting the battle. God never promised that following Him would be easy, but He did promise to be with us through it.
Whether you’re just starting the habit of going to church or trying to get back into it, don’t give up. We need each other. We need the encouragement, the accountability, and the grace that comes from being part of a church family. So even on the hard mornings, let’s not grow weary of meeting together.
Comments