Around eight months ago, as the week before Easter approached, I found myself going to as many church services as possible to prepare my heart for the coming celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. As a result, I began to ask myself why I enjoyed going to church so much. I was not questioning my faith in God, but instead I wanted to take the time to think of my own honest answer. Since I am at an age where I can decide whether or not I want to go to church on Sundays, I can no longer say that my parents are the main reason I attend. (Basically, I always choose to go to church but I am also able to choose a different option if I really wanted to.) After much thought, here is the answer I came up with: I go to church because it fills me with God’s peace, and I feel more connected to Him. Many people try to find that peace in worldly things, but only God can completely satisfy our hearts. For example, some people watch movies to escape reality. It can be a distraction from the stressful things that they may be experiencing. Of course, I am not saying that watching movies is a bad thing! I enjoy watching them myself, but I always have this empty feeling when the movie is over—as if my heart is torn between fantasy and reality. After watching the 2017 version of “Beauty and the Beast” in theaters a while ago, I remember feeling disappointed to go back to my normal, non-extravagant and stressful life after leaving the theater. I was not looking forward to going to school the next day, and thoughts about true love and happy endings swirled around in my mind. On the contrary, when I go to church, God renews His strength and peace within my heart and it lasts longer than just a few hours. When I leave my church after the service is over, I do not feel unsatisfied or disappointed. Instead, I have a refreshed feeling of confidence and strength within my heart. I leave knowing that whatever I may face in the upcoming week, I will have God by my side to help me through it. And honestly, that is one of the best feelings a person could ever experience. Psalm 107:8-9 says, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” Jeremiah 31:25 says, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
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