Sighing on Sunday: 40 Meditations for When Church Hurts

by Megan Hill

Neglect. Rejection. Sin. Conflict. Change. It’s difficult to go to church when you’ve suffered some of your deepest hurts there.

Megan Hill understands that church can be hard. In forty thoughtful meditations, she lays out reliable biblical truths for your encouragement and healing. You’ll explore the source of your struggle, find ways to express your sorrow, and consider wise actions to take. Others have struggled as well—and found hope. There’s hope for you too.

Endorsements“Though the church may hurt us, Christ and his Word will never fail us. There is healing on the other side of church hurt, and these devotions are a great place to start.”

—Winfree Brisley, Editor, The Gospel Coalition

“Provides welcome counsel, relief, and balm for the Christian pained in or by the church. These pages are filled with gracious abiding truths from the loving Lord of the church.”

—Jason Helopoulos, Senior Pastor, University Reformed Church, East Lansing, Michigan

“Megan Hill has done us all a service by taking us back to the Scriptures and to the heart of Christ, offering words of wisdom and warning, as we seek healing in the body of Christ where we’ve experienced hurt.”

—Trevin Wax, Author, The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Rethink Your Self, and Gospel-Centered Teaching

“Megan’s book is an invitation to exhale and think biblically as we encounter the inevitable disappointments in Christ’s church.”

—Karen Hodge, Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Presbyterian Church in America

“Will encourage those who are weary from the deep hurts inflicted by their church family while providing helpful direction for navigating the complexities in the days ahead.”

—Darby Strickland, Faculty, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Theology

120 pages, Hardcover

Published May 15, 2024

About the author

Megan Hill is a pastor’s wife and a pastor’s daughter who has spent her life praying with others. She serves on the editorial board for Christianity Today and is a regular contributor to Her.meneutics and the Gospel Coalition.

Reviews

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I’d recommend for Christians who have been hurt by the church. The 40-day devotional format makes this perfect for support groups that meet through the Lenten season.

[Jennifer S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This devotional read is short yet packed full.
At first glance, it would seem easy to skim over the 2-page chapters... until you get to the questions at the end of each. Although the chapters are short, they are pointed. The reader is driven to Scripture, to examples of people who went through such trials, and directs you to the hope and character of God.
I'd commend this to individuals or small groups alike.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! If you’ve ever been disappointed, ignored, betrayed, gossiped about or in some other way sinned or hurt by others in the church, this is a phenomenal book! Megan Hill takes the Scripture seriously and applies it wisely and helpfully. You need to read this - I know I did!

[Mariah Delposen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent resource for anyone disappointed in or hurt by people in the church. Each devotional entry is concise yet packed with biblical insight and true encouragement. Highly recommended for any season when church feels painful.

[Caroline McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of this book were solid and really helpful while other parts seemed to drag because they covered a variety of case-specific issues vs being widely applicable.

[Renee Masterson Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually like books that are devotional in nature, but this is the exception. This book is 40 days broken into 6 parts with each day including a meditation from Megan Hill plus a passage of Scripture to read, questions on which to reflect, and a prompt to help you pray. Hill—like in many of her other books—takes events from the Bible and accurately applies them to the reader’s life. Hill consistently encourages the reader using Scripture and the lives of its figures to hand-hold through the reader’s current trial. Hill is honest about hurt caused in the church—recognizing that the one hurting can also be the one inflicting hurt. Hill never trivializes intentional or unintentional pain caused by people we worship with weekly. Instead, Hill points the reader to the sufferings of people in biblical history, most notably Jesus Christ, and shows how we are not alone.
This book encouraged me to keep showing up even when it’s hard, even when I want to give up, even when I’m frustrated with my church family, even when I disagree with my pastors’ decisions, even when I don’t want to show up because I’ll have to deal with certain conversations. This book has really reoriented my heart toward the truth of Scripture and reminded me that it is a blessing and command to bear with one another until the blessed day we reach our heavenly Home. This book has help guard my heart from bitterness and it met me right when I needed it to.

I was helped in that this book did not shy away from difficult realities we face in church. My favorite section was Part 4 “What Can I Do?” because I need to be continuously reminded not to isolate, runaway, get prideful, doubt, or refuse help in times of pain within the church. As a pastor’s wife, I really resonated with this book—and I also think it helped me love my church family better as I seek to understand their own pains.

If you have ever experienced frustration or difficulties loving the people of God because of disagreements or misunderstandings or more serious issues, this book will be a sweet balm to your heart.


**And let me just say, I absolutely ADORE my church family, as imperfect as we are. I know I have been the causer of people’s pain, as well as the unfortunate recipient. I have been greatly humbled and encouraged by the kindness and forgiveness that my church has shown me over the years. I have grown in my ability to give benefits of the doubt, forgive, and love like Jesus does. I love SCBC so much and I consider it a great privilege to get to walk with them toward eternity.

[Anne Dryburgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Church can be a wonderful place where members grow to know the Lord together and develop deep and loving relationships. It can also be a place where people experience deep hurt.

In Sighing on Sunday: 40 Meditations for When Church Hurts, Megan Hill provides a 40-day devotional to help people who are struggling with church hurt. Sighing on Sunday consists of six sections to help the reader as they process their experience and as a help to know the Lord. These sections are:

what is happening;

why is church so hard;

why should I trust God when church hurts;

what can I do;

why should I show up;

and what others have done in my situation.

In each section, Hill uses stories from the Bible and everyday life to help the reader reflect on their experience. She also has helpful questions at the end of each day to encourage further thought and reflection.

Sighing on Sunday is a helpful devotional for someone struggling with church hurt to see their experience from an understanding and biblical perspective. It could be a help for the reader to seek the life that the Lord has for them, rather then withdrawing and becoming stuck in their hurt.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read and discussed this book with a group of 16-20 women in my church. We had just experienced a painful church split. This book is a wonderful tool to point us to the Scriptures to learn or remind ourselves of the nature of man, the character of God, and the steadfast love, grace and mercy of Christ.

Each devotion led to a wonderful study of the referenced bible passages, as well as fostered excellent discussion. Even just reading through the book is edifying and equipping; but so much more so if one takes the time to study and meditate on the Bible passages, and then engage in discussion with other sisters in Christ.

This book has great relevance to life in general for a believer, even if one isn't experiencing church hurts; the wisdom and truths shared are helpful as we navigate all of life's circumstances.

This book is a gem; equipping, relevant, and instructive. A treasure trove of biblical wisdom.

[Jessica Bunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a pastor’s wife, I found Megan Hill’s “Sighing on Sunday” provided me much comfort and hope. No matter the situation, Hill supports the fact that God’s best is for God’s people to be together in His church under the preaching of His Word. However, Hill also acknowledges the sinfulness of even the redeemed, still in need of sanctification. She writes from a place of conviction but also of experience - having walked through Muan hurts and trials she writes about.

Her short devotions are biblical and instructive, yet I think the real gem in this book is the application section at the end of each entry where she suggests a passage to read, questions for reflection, and a prayer prompt to utilize. This is great for individual use or with a group.

Read and be blessed.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When the situation in our own churches is discouraging, we can resist the temptation to give up and instead find ways to serve God. When a beloved pastor moves on, we can look for opportunities to encourage his replacement. When a favorite ministry ceases to exist, we can offer to help with a different one. When fewer and fewer people show up to each Sunday, we can do the good work of praying earnestly for the Lord to add to the number those who are being saved. In the face of hardship, there is still good work for the church to do in the world - “the harvest is plentiful,” promised Jesus - and we have the privilege of persisting in it.”

[Kelly Burtrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is devided into 40 meditations, I chose to read it as a book.
I read this book to help equip me to engage with fellow Christians who are hurting.
The author acknowledges the fact that the redeemed are still being sanctified. Even through hurt and disappointment, there's no better place to be than under the preaching of God's word, in God's church, gathered with God's people.
This book was a great read and cause of great reflection and prayer.
Onward!

[J. Alfred · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great resource for people hurting from their encounters with the church. At least, so it seems to me-- I really like church; I got this book for free from a church service. But the meditations are deep, thoughtful, biblical, and honest about how church, though it is really good, can feel really bad.
Give this to someone in your life who is hurting.

[Monica Deregt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly helpful devotional that was both comforting and challenging in a non-preachy way. Very scripturally based, it felt like a reset button for the posture of my heart and my faith, and a safe place to process the hurt and pain that is unfortunately all too common in church life. Highly recommend for anyone who has been hurt, disappointed, or disenchanted with any aspect of church.

[Nicole Mott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very encouraging. The devotionals are geared towards church hurt but honestly they were so practical in all areas of my life where I’ve been hurting. So many were very timely and I was immensely encouraged by how she approached each days devotional, scripture, reflection and prayer.

[Michaela T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed book on a much needed topic, all from a Biblical perspective. It balances empathy toward church hurt with the truth of God's word regarding the situation, encouraging people to neither ignore their pain or abandon faith & fellowship. That is a rare, difficult line. Thank you to the author for writing this book with nuance and care.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

a helpful book esp to use as a devotional or as a group or one to one study.

i read it in chunks and am not so familiar with such situations (by God’s grace) so it felt a bit low at times. but definitely addresses how many feel.

[Rebeka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfeito para quem esta em conflito com a igreja

[Caryn Demaree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this book and cried my way through it. My loving husband bought it for me and I read it through the first day. Recommend!

[Angela Colson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book many years ago. If you are going thru or have ever gone thru church hurt and you are sighing on Sundays, this is the book for you.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this would be kind of fluffy, but it was actually saturated with Biblical truths and really helpful for us in this season.

[Lexi Zuo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really encouraging biblical book if you are going through a hard season at church. Highly recommend!

[Jade Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such great insight! Have learned a lot and have been comforted a lot in this study