What to Do When Church Feels Awkward

Everyone feels awkward at church.

Did you know that? Some of us are just better at hiding it — but don’t be fooled, it’s there. I’ve belonged to various churches since I was a kid, and honestly? The un-awkward moments are the rare ones! I remember my Dad used to race off as soon as church would finish. Why? He hated talking to people! AND he was a church leader!

There are two big reasons church feels awkward:

1. God. Yes, you heard me. — God makes church awkward. If you’ve been away for a while, you suddenly notice how strange it feels to sing, pray, and talk about things you don’t usually think about. Sometimes you even get that gut-punch feeling: “I should have been paying more attention to this…” and guilt creeps in. But listen — that’s normal. God is so utterly different from you and I (trust me, this is a good thing) so being away from Him for a while is bound to get a little awkward. You're not alone.

2. People. New people, old-timers, overly happy people, names you can’t remember. Everyone else seems to get the “church family” language while you feel like an outsider. Awkward, right?

But here’s the thing: awkwardness doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It means you’re forming relationships — with God and with people. My advice? Stick it out. Say hi. Find one small connection. Awkwardness is a sign you’re stepping into something meaningful.

Here's some good news: It's Jesus. I have no idea if he ever felt awkward or not but here's something I do know: Jesus is both GOD & MAN. Jesus, the son of God stepped into our world and became human. So he gets both sides of the awkward thing. And he is the one that is calling you back to the Church. He is alive and actively seeking out his people. He died and rose again to make a giant family of awkwardness. Sound fun? It is.