Four years ago, I stepped into the full-time church scene, thinking it would be a place of constant peace and spiritual renewal. Little did I know, serving within the church has a way of stripping away illusions. I’ve peeked behind the veil and seen that the church—just like any other gathering of people—is filled with flawed humans. It’s been exhausting at times, both spiritually and emotionally, but this journey has taught me something invaluable: to look beyond the flaws and see people for who they are to God.
Growing up, my church involvement was minimal. I attended Sunday school on occasion, and as an adult, I mostly attended on major holidays—Christmas and Easter, the usual “big” days. Church was always a place I respected, but it wasn’t a major part of my life. That changed when I made the decision to commit fully to my faith and serve. I quickly realized that the church isn’t filled with perfect people. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We’re all works in progress.
Thankfully, my husband kept me grounded from the start. He reminded me, “Don’t look at the person, and don’t idolize them. Just know they are flawed and keep your eyes on Jesus.” Those words have stayed with me, offering wisdom when the imperfections of people feel overwhelming. I’ve come to realize that my focus shouldn’t be on the people, their flaws, or their shortcomings—it should be on Christ, who is the ultimate example of love and grace.
When I first began serving, I had high expectations. I thought that being part of the church would shield me from the daily struggles of life, that somehow we’d all be on the same page—striving toward righteousness and holiness. I quickly learned that this is far from reality. We, as the church, are not immune to brokenness. In fact, it’s often magnified here because we’re walking alongside one another in our faith journeys, rubbing up against each other’s flaws and shortcomings.
It’s easy to look at the flaws of others and make judgments. I’ve done it myself, sometimes without realizing it. But the more I’ve been immersed in this community, the more I’ve understood that flaws are part of the human condition. We all have them. We’re all flawed. Yet, God sees us differently. He doesn’t define us by our flaws, and I’ve been learning to love people for who they are to Him.
This perspective shift hasn’t been easy. It requires patience, grace, and humility—virtues I’m still working on daily. There have been moments where the weight of people’s brokenness has felt overwhelming. But in those times, I remind myself that I, too, am broken. I, too, need grace. And if God can look at me and love me despite my flaws, then how much more should I be able to extend that same love to others?
It’s easy to feel discouraged, especially when you’re deeply involved in the inner workings of the church. Sometimes it feels like we’re spinning our wheels, trying to help people who don’t want to change or face their flaws. But that’s not my job—to fix people or point out their flaws. My role is to love them, serve them, and be a reflection of God’s love in their lives.
Serving in the church has shown me that the work isn’t glamorous. It’s hard, messy, and often exhausting. But the rewards are found in the quiet moments—when we see someone transform not because we pointed out their flaws, but because we loved them through it. It’s in those moments that I see God at work, both in them and in me.
Lately, I’ve felt called to step back from ministry, to focus on God, and to patiently wait for what He has in store for me. It’s been a season of rest and reflection, and although I don’t have all the answers yet, I’m trusting that He is guiding me. I’ve learned that sometimes stepping back is necessary to see clearly where we’re headed. Yes, we are all flawed, but we are also His. And that, more than anything, is what matters.
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