103. Feeling stressed and lonely? Why God's Answer to Anxiety Is the Church

Are you feeling lonely, anxious, spiritually stuck—or like you’re carrying more than God ever intended you to?

In today’s episode, we explore the truth that you were never meant to do life alone. God designed the Church not as a building, but as a living, breathing family—the Body of Christ. When we step out of community, we become more vulnerable to spiritual attack, isolation, and discouragement.

We talk about:

• Why regular church involvement matters for your emotional and spiritual health
• What the Bible says the Church is—and what it’s not
• How to find a church where you can grow and be known
• My personal story from last Sunday when God met me in the middle of anxiety
• And how to start again if you’ve been hurt, overwhelmed, or disconnected

 Scripture References:

• 1 Corinthians 12:27 – You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
• Hebrews 10:24–25 – Let us not give up meeting together… but encouraging one another.
• Ephesians 4:11–13 – To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
• Acts 2:42 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
• 1 Peter 5:8 – Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 – Two are better than one… pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
• John 13:34–35 – By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.

 Key Takeaways:

• God places the lonely in families—and that starts with the Church.
• Disconnection from church can increase feelings of anxiety, stress, and spiritual confusion.
• The Church is not optional for spiritual growth—it is God’s design for healing, truth, and transformation.
• Even if you’ve been hurt or feel unsure where to begin, there is a place for you.
• Obedience often starts with simply showing up—again and again.

 Download the Free Devotional

Want to go deeper?

Download the free devotional:

“The Church Is Not a Building: A 1-Page Study on God’s Design for His People”

This study includes Scriptures, reflection questions, and practical steps to help you discern and commit to a church that strengthens your walk with Christ.

 Also Recommended:

If you’re navigating church hurt and want to explore healing through God’s perspective, listen to:

• Episode 88 – Healing Church Hurt
• Episode 86 – Healing is Spiritual

 Stay Connected:

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps others discover the message.

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Until next time—keep asking, keep seeking, keep walking in faith. 

He is with you.

Amen!

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Transcript

0:01

Hi. Welcome back to Curious for Christ. I'm Alexandra, and I'm so glad you're here. If you've been wrestling with loneliness, chronic anxiety, or just feel stuck in your faith walk, this episode is for you because God didn't design you to do life alone. He places the lonely in families, and that family begins. In the church. So let me ask, are you part of a church, not just going sporadically or listening faithfully online, but truly part of a spiritual family? Do people know you? Are you praying for them and they for you? Are you worshiping, fasting, and serving together? Today's episode is about the church, what it is and what it is not according to God's word, and how understanding that truth can help you stop wandering and start growing again. Welcome to Curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying, awake at night wondering about God's plan for your life? Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Alexandra. I too felt lost and sure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me, but I kept telling myself I was too busy. The timing wasn't right, and my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and revealed the way to find purpose by anchoring myself. In him. In this podcast, we'll journey together exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of him and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those earbuds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He's making everything new and you don't wanna miss it. Let's get started. But first, let's talk about something real. Stress, anxiety, and isolation. Recent studies show that nearly four in 10 Americans who've walked away from church say they now struggle with chronic loneliness. And among young adults, anxiety and isolation are higher than ever. In fact, the US Surgeon General has called loneliness. A public health crisis. But here's what's interesting. Those who attend church weekly report lower levels of loneliness and greater emotional resilience. And yet, for the first time in American history, less than half of US adults belong to a local church. Why? Well, maybe you've been hurt. Maybe church felt shallow, performative, or like it didn't reflect Jesus. Maybe you are just overwhelmed and don't know where to start. And I get it. Actually, just last Sunday, I felt it. Everyone was back from summer camp in my house. We were running late to church, and I could feel the weight of the morning pressing down on me. Would everyone show up on time? Would they feel connected to everyone after being away? Was I carrying the spiritual wellbeing of my family alone? I felt the anxiety rise like it often does, and instead of making decisions based on being stressed in my mind I knew that worry doesn't help, but in my heart, I still carried the weight like it was mine to. Hold. But then we got to church. We walked through the church doors, we sat down and something began to shift. The worship started. The lyrics reminded me, God is going to bring the victory, and something in my spirit, tired and overwhelmed just moments before was strengthened. It was like the Holy Spirit breathed life back into me. And then the sermon, it was about the Israelites wandering in the desert, how quickly they forgot what God had done, how they grumbled, how they wanted control, and it hit me. That's me. Sometimes I forget. I complain. I tried to control, yes, yes, yes. But the message didn't leave me in guilt. It lifted me into grace because I was exactly where I needed to be. I was there at church doing God's will and listening to his message, and it reminded me I am a sinner, but I'm not alone. God is my deliverer. And he walks with me still. And then afterward we talk to people. Every one of us. My son laughed with his church, friends, we lingered. It really felt like family. We're not walking alone. This walk. I left feeling like a child of God, nothing more, nothing less. And in that identity alone, all was well. I could walk in faith again because he is with me. So let's open the word and look at what God says about the church. One Corinthians 1227 says, now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. The church is not a building. It is a body, a living, breathing, extension of Jesus on Earth, and you, if you're in Christ, are meant to be a part of it. Hebrews 10, verses 24 through 25 says, let us not give up meeting together, but encouraging one another and all the more. As you see the day approaching the church isn't a performance. It's a gathering of believers committed to helping each other stay faithful. Ephesians four, verses 11 through 13 says, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. The church isn't something to consume. It's where we are equipped to grow and to serve. And in Acts two, verse 42, they devoted themselves to the apostles teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. That's the picture of a biblical church truth, community communion, prayer, fellowship, discipleship. So let's also be clear on what the church is not. It's not a building. It is not perfect. It's full of imperfect people being shaped by grace, but obedient to Christ, or at least committed to abiding in Christ, in obedience. It's not a social club. It's not a place to earn God's love. You already. Have it, and it's not optional for a believer who wants to grow. When we walk away from the church, we often walk away from the very pleased God designed to strengthen, shape and restore us. If you're navigating church hurt and want to explore healing through God's perspective, listen to episode 88 of Cures for Christ and for a deeper dive into personal healing, check out episode 86. Both will be in the show notes. If you've been hurt by a church or don't even know what to look for, start here. Ask yourself, is the teaching grounded in scripture? Not politics, not opinions, but the living, breathing word of God. Two. Is there spiritual fruit? Do you see humility, love, service, and people being changed? Do they love one another? Do they know each other? It's easy to love someone you don't know, but are they committed to one another? Is there real community? Are people known, cared for and prayed for when they don't come? Does anyone notice? Number four, are you being challenged to grow, not just comforted? Truth and love, always leading us toward Christ. You don't need a perfect church again, but you need a faithful one. And as you search, pray, Lord, lead me to the people and the place where you want me to grow. Because let me tell you this. This isn't just an invitation. This is God's design for your life. If you're not part of a local church, truly committed, you are more vulnerable to the enemy's attacks and lies, even if you don't even realize it. One Peter five, eight says, be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy of the devil. P prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour and a lion. Just like the enemy we talk about in this scripture goes after the isolated, the ones who try to carry it all alone, even if it feels like they're doing great, they may be wandering away without even realizing it. Ecclesiastes four verses nine through 10 reminds us two are better than one. If either of them falls, one can help the other up, but petty anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Up, maybe right now you feel stuck, confused, and spiritually dry, but maybe you're also just tired, stressed out, anxious, hurt because you're carrying more than God ever intended you to carry alone. You keep pressing on, but something feels off. You're doing all the things, but still wondering why you feel so tired, stressed, empty. So here's the truth, that restlessness, that weight, that anxiety, it could be a sign that something in your spiritual life is out of alignment. And very often it's this, this connection from the body of Christ. When we step outside of God's design for community, we end up wandering and weakening and compromising. But when we return, when we say yes to his design, we begin to heal. And we are back. And there's something wonderful that comes with it because God loves us and he is patient with us and he wants us to choose life. So Friend church is not about checking a box or impressing God. It is abiding in Christ as the head of the church. So you can. Have spiritual fruit and live according to his will. It's about becoming who you were always meant to be through Christ and with his people. You were never meant to do this alone. And yes, it is vulnerable to show up, but healing begins in the showing up day by day, week by week, year after year, not just once. You are loved. You are needed. And there is a place for you in God's church. Thank you for listening to Curious for Christ. If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review. It helps others discover the message. If you're ready to go deeper in one clarity on what to look for in a church, check the link in the show notes. I've created a devotional filled with scriptures that unpack what the Bible says the church truly is. So you can determine whether the church you're going to or the church in your neighborhood is one where you can truly grow to become closer to Christ. I am praying for you that God leads you to the community. He's prepared just for you. Until next time, keep asking, keep seeking, keep walking in Faith he is with you. Bye for now. Hi, I hope you enjoy today's episode. If so, would you like to take 30 seconds and share it with a friend who may also struggle with knowing God and his purpose for their life? Also, leave a review on Apple Podcast and let me know what topics you'd like to hear about in the future. Your voice matters. I'll meet you back next Friday. For another episode.