I am a pretty independent person, but when it comes to new places or going somewhere... I for some reason do not like going alone. If I go grocery shopping, I can go in and out, but I have not been able to go to a movie nor go to a restaurant alone. That has been my ongoing goal; however, recently I decided I wanted to try a different branch of my church that I have not been to in a long time.
Because it was a last minute decision I would have to go alone. My mother goes to the 11:00 a.m. service at a different campus and it was 9:00 a.m. and I wanted to go to The Harvest (that is what they call the service I wanted to go to). I was driving to find a parking spot when a huge uncomfortable, abort mission feeling came to me.
I instantly began to think, "Well, maybe I can just go to the service where I know a lot of people. I will feel more comfortable," but that was not what God wanted me to do. I parked my car and walked to The Harvest. I naturally sat in the back so that I did not have to pass people and look awkward in choosing a seat. I began to look all around and I actually did not recognize any one. I began to feel vulnerable and uncomfortable.
The music started. OK, good worship, something to calm my nerves. But I still was worried about everyone else and how I probably looked so out of place. I am not sure why though. I have been going to church on Sundays and I have been going to the same church since I was four. But that's the thing about feeling vulnerable: I think we overanalyze the situation.
After going alone to church, I feel as though I understood the message more than I usually do. It's funny how God works. All the cool things from my devotions that week was unwrapped in one message. That uncomfortable feeling only made me grow. I forget that in order to grow in my spiritual walk, I will need to be uncomfortable. The Lord takes away any comfort to open our eyes to His sovereignty. I am not sure why going to church alone was so fearful for me, but I am glad that I listened to God and went. He unraveled so many cool things that I was able to put together.
SEE ALSO: Millennials Just Aren't Going To Church Anymore
If you have not gone to church alone, I encourage you to do so. It might be uncomfortable, but remember that will only draw you closer to God. God may be trying to tell you something, but in order to hear it, you need to be alone.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone.
Let's be more like Jesus. Let's purposefully be alone to be with God so that we may grow closer to Him.
