Several years ago, I contracted a sickness that required me to quarantine. This meant missing church for two Sundays in a row. I admit: the thought was exciting to me.

Two Sundays in a row where I could sit on my sofa, stay in my pajamas if I wanted, and watch the livestream of my church’s service. Two Sundays when I didn’t have to single-handedly get four children dressed, fed, and hustled out the door, come early, stay late, and feel on-display throughout the morning. Two glorious Sundays in a row when I could be all by myself, unseen and unknown.

The thought was delightful. It was so delightful that I began to be concerned. My simultaneous delight and concern got me thinking:

What happens when a pastor’s wife doesn’t want to go to church? What do I do when it’s me? 

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Find the rest of the article I wrote for Gospel-Centered Discipleship here.

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And now for a behind-the-scenes…

Sometimes I write something and sit on it for a while. Many times, writing is a way for me to process and the words never end up seeing the harsh light of the internet.

But in some cases, I write, then I sit on it, and then it resurfaces.
That was the case for this writing.

When I got to a place where I thought this article could help others who also struggle with a desire to attend church (whether they’re married to a pastor, serving as a pastor, or occupy neither of these roles), I had one concern: I didn’t want my article to come across harshly towards my local church.

So I prayed.
I asked my husband for feedback on the article & publishing of it. And then I sent it to several people in my local church and asked for their initial impressions on tone and content.

This became one of my favorite parts of writing this article.

Do you know why?
Because it sparked excellent conversations (in-person, over the phone, and via e-mail) that encouraged my heart and deepened my faith in the Lord.

At the end of the day, it’s the people right around me who have the greatest influence on my life—the people I talk and pray with, laugh and cry with, worship and learn with—the ones in my own church family whom I get to worship with week in and week out.

I have two hopes for this article.

1. I want you to know that pastors’ wives are people too. Just because they’re married to a pastor doesn’t mean they don’t need to repent of rotten attitudes on Sunday mornings. They’re real humans with needs, gifts, failures, victories, weaknesses, strengths, & idiosyncrasies. My glory is where yours should be: in the cross of Christ alone.
2. I want you to love Jesus more by loving his church more—no matter your job or spouse.

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An excerpt from the end:

Church is not just for the weeks you feel like a winner; it’s for the weeks you feel like an unending failure. This is the beauty of God’s church. 

When one member suffers, all the members suffer with them; when one member rejoices, all the members rejoice with them (1 Cor. 12:26). Because whether we are suffering or rejoicing, whether we’re in leadership or a first-time visitor, we all need the same good news—Jesus is the Savior. I’m so glad He’s mine!

Find the full article here.