When You Feel Annoyed at Church

Feeling distracted, annoyed, or judgmental at church can quietly reveal places where freedom hasn’t fully taken root. John 8:36 reminds us that true worship flows from the freedom Christ gives—not from conformity, comparison, or comfort.

Highlights

• Judgment can quietly imprison our hearts, even in worship.

• What looks distracting on the outside may be evidence of deep healing and redemption.

• God often invites us to love the very people we instinctively avoid.

• Freedom in Christ doesn’t always look neat, quiet, or familiar.

• Worship involves the whole person—heart, mind, and body.

• Letting go of fear of others’ opinions creates space to encounter God more fully.

• Jesus frees us not only from sin, but from rigid expectations and spiritual pride.

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Full Transcript Below:

When You Feel Annoyed at Church
By Kelly Balarie

Bible Reading:
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." – John 8:36 NIV

I tried to close my eyes. That was my best attempt to ignore the woman standing in front of me. If I close my eyes, I won't have to be bothered with her. That was my line of thinking, anyway. If I close my eyes, I can think about the words in the song, and the love for God in my heart—not her.

Yet, before long, I squinted my eyes open to catch a glance. She was still doing it. She was moving her body during worship. She wasn't standing still. She wasn't being like everyone else. She was swaying her body, unlike the rest of the church.

She's distracting. She is one hundred percent distracting. She shouldn't be allowed to do this.

I was bothered in my heart, perturbed in my mind, and critical with my words. In the car, I told my husband about it.

Later, though, at home, after praying about gathering a group of women at my house to experience God's love and the truth of His Word, she came to mind.

God, do you want me to invite… her?

Indeed, I had a strong impression on my heart that she is exactly who He wanted me to invite.

Anyone but her.

Despite my hesitancy, I obeyed. Once she was at my house, some of the ladies began to open up about their stories.

When it was the dancing girl’s turn, she shared, "I used to be a stripper. Then, I found Jesus. He saved me and rescued me out of that. Now, when I move during church worship, it is like He is redeeming all the dances I did before. He is redeeming me, as He looks upon me in worship, I just know it..."

My mouth wanted to drop.

How could I have judged her? God was doing something with her. How could I have declared her a stumbling block? Her story was now healing me of judgment. How could I have been such a Pharisee? It was people like this that Jesus came to save and love.

I was the one in the wrong.

While I was in a prison of judgment, she was experiencing the freedom of Christ Jesus.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV)

Maybe she knew something I didn't. Maybe moving during worship is part of experiencing freedom. Maybe moving breaks free of a room that may be conforming. Was she on to something?

During worship, I started to sway a little. I started to raise my hands. I started to break out of normal to pursue God, not only with all my heart, but with all my body. And, wow! God met me in that place. I felt His heart near me. I felt His grace around me.

Who knew?

Intersecting Faith & Life:

How might God be calling you to break a norm? How might He be encouraging you to worship Him with all your heart? What would it look like to stop fearing what you look like before man and to give Him more of yourself in worship? How do you fear what others think of you?

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