Running Late to Church Doesn’t Make You a Bad Christian
Exposing guilt, pressure, and the lies we believe
Let’s just say it out loud.
Some Sundays feel less like “Holy, holy, holy” and more like “Where are your shoes?”
Coffee’s cold. Someone’s crying. Someone else suddenly needs the bathroom right now.
And the clock? The clock is judging you.
I’ll be the first to admit it.
I’m late to church sometimes.
Related Article
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” — Matthew 19:30
The Sunday Morning Pressure Cooker
Kids are amazing.
They’re also experts at slowing things down at the exact wrong moment.
You tell them to put on socks.
They disappear like ninjas.
You ask them to hurry.
They move slower.
Stress creeps in. Voices raise. Frustration builds.
And that’s when the enemy leans in real close and whispers,
“See? You’re already failing. Might as well not go.”
Satan feeds off that chaos.
He loves a tense Sunday morning. ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT.
Because if he can keep you feeling defeated before you even get in the car, he doesn’t have to fight you in the pew.
The Lie: “If I’m Late, I Don’t Belong”
Somewhere along the way, many of us picked up this idea that being late means being unworthy.
But that’s not Biblical
That’s pressure and pride.
Jesus never said, “Blessed are the punctual.”
He said, “Come to Me.”
Better Late Than Never (Yes, Really)
Here’s the thing that matters more than the clock:
You came.
You showed up tired. Frazzled. Maybe irritated.
But you still walked through those doors.
That’s obedience. Don’t think so? Okay, skip Church next Sunday and come back to this article. I’ll wait…
Jesus told us the last will be first and the first will be last for a reason.
Because God isn’t impressed by polished appearances.
He’s drawn to surrendered hearts.
When the Enemy Uses Guilt as a Weapon
Guilt feels spiritual sometimes.
But it’s often just shame wearing church clothes.
If being late makes you want to stay home, hide, or give up—
that’s not the Holy Spirit talking.
That’s the enemy hoping you’ll choose isolation over worship.
A Different Way to See Sunday Mornings
What if instead of aiming for perfection, we aimed for persistence?
What if the win wasn’t on time, but present?
What if our kids saw a parent who said,
“Even when it’s hard, we go.”
That lesson lasts longer than a perfectly timed entrance.
A Gentle Reminder for Tired Parents
God sees you wrestling kids into car seats.
He hears the prayers you whisper through clenched teeth.
He knows your heart even when your morning went sideways.
And He’s not tapping His foot waiting for you to arrive.
He’s welcoming you in.
Before You Slip Out Quietly…
If you’re the one who sneaks into the back row late, hoping no one notices—
hear this:
You belong here.
Practical Ways to Get Motivated to Go to Church (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)
1. Decide on Saturday, Not Sunday
Sunday morning is a terrible time to make spiritual decisions.
You’re tired. Kids are wild. Coffee hasn’t kicked in.
On Saturday night, say it out loud:
“We’re going tomorrow.”
Not “We’ll see how we feel.”
Feelings make bad leaders.
2. Remove One Obstacle (Not All of Them)
Don’t aim for perfect. Aim for easier.
Lay out clothes (even if they don’t match)
Pre-pack the diaper bag
Put keys, wallet, and shoes in one place
One less hurdle can be the difference between staying home and walking out the door.
3. Lower the Bar on Appearances
This one’s big.
You don’t need:
Perfect outfits
Perfect attitudes
Perfect kids
You need a willing heart and a moving body.
Church isn’t a fashion show.
It’s a hospital.
4. Expect Resistance (So It Doesn’t Surprise You)
If you wait for a smooth morning, you’ll wait forever.
Expect:
Arguments
Delays
Random meltdowns
That one kid who suddenly can’t find anything
When it happens, you can say,
“Yep. Knew this was coming.”
Resistance often means you’re doing something right.
5. Focus on the First 10 Minutes
Don’t think about the whole service.
That feels overwhelming.
Just aim to:
Get in the car
Drive there
Sit down
Momentum builds after movement.
6. Remember Why You Go (Not How You Feel)
You don’t go to church because you feel holy.
You go because you need God.
Church recenters your heart.
It reminds you you’re not alone.
It resets your week—even when you show up late.
7. Pray a Simple, Honest Prayer
Nothing fancy.
“God, I don’t feel like going.
Please help me go anyway.”
That prayer counts.
He hears it.
8. Celebrate Showing Up (Even If It Was Messy)
If you made it there—late, frazzled, irritated—
that’s still a win.
Don’t replay what went wrong.
Thank God you went at all.
Progress beats perfection every time.
9. Give Yourself Grace, Not Excuses
Grace says, “Try again next week.”
Excuses say, “Just stay home.”
One leads to growth.
The other leads to isolation.
Choose grace.
10. Remember: The Enemy Loves an Empty Pew
This isn’t about guilt.
It’s about awareness.
The enemy doesn’t need to destroy your faith—
he just needs to keep you disconnected.
Sometimes simply showing up is spiritual warfare.
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Call to Repentance
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.
Call to Action
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We’ll Talk Soon
— Mark