When Letting Go Feels Like Loss

Why Leaving the Structure of Church Hurts—and What to Do with That Feeling

There’s a tension here—

One I understand well.

For many, this journey into honoring Shabbat feels like a beautiful homecoming...

and also, a heartbreaking goodbye.

Not because we’ve lost our faith—

But because we’ve lost the structure that once held it.

And that matters.

Because structure feels safe.

It gives rhythm to our weeks, identity to our gatherings, and familiarity to our worship.

So when the Spirit begins whispering, “Come out of her, My people…” (Rev. 18:4)

—when we feel called to walk in the ways of the ancient path—

we don’t always realize what that yes will cost us.

Until we find ourselves sitting quietly on a Saturday…

Missing the buzz of Sunday morning.

Missing the handshakes, the hugs, the rhythm.

Missing the thing that once carried us—however imperfectly.

When letting go feels like loss, trust that God is still writing the story.

🤍 What You’re Feeling Is Loss and Grief

Let’s name it:

It’s grief.

You didn’t just leave a service.

You left a system that once felt like home.

You left traditions, calendars, language, and in some cases—deep relationships.

You may have even left your own history.

But here’s the grace in that:

You’re not walking away from God.

You’re walking with Him.

Into something older.

Truer.

And more aligned with His heart.

✨ We Haven’t Left the Body—We’re Just Following the Head

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it:

We haven’t walked away from the Body—we’re just learning to walk in alignment with the Head.

Yeshua is calling us into rhythm with His ways—

Not Sunday morning culture.

Not programs and parking lot duty.

But covenant.

Obedience.

Remembrance.

And relationship on His terms.

He said it plainly:

“These are My disciples—those who obey My commandments.”(John 14:15, 1 John 2:3–6)

At that time, His commandments were the Torah and the Prophets.

That was His foundation.

And for those of us returning to it now, the shift feels radical.

But it’s not rebellion.

It’s realignment.

🛤️ You Can Honor the Past Without Rebuilding It

Here’s something that helped me on this journey:

You don’t have to hate where you came from to walk forward.

You don’t need bitterness, accusation, or spiritual arrogance.

You can honor what was while choosing what is.

And you can bless those still inside the structures you left—

While walking freely into the wilderness with your Shepherd.

Because for Israel, the wilderness wasn’t punishment.

It was preparation.

It was where God came down to meet them.

🕯️ So What Do We Do Now?

Let yourself feel what you feel.

Letting go feels like loss.

Let the grief come.

Let the disorientation wash over you for a bit.

But also—

Let the peace settle in.

The deep, settling peace of knowing you are responding to His voice.

Don’t rush to rebuild a new “church” structure too quickly.

Don’t scramble to fill the Sunday-shaped hole.

Let this season be different.

Let it be slow. Let it be sacred.

Because this isn't about becoming anti-church.

It's about becoming aligned with the Head.

🫶 A Word of Encouragement When Letting Go Feels Like Loss

If you're feeling alone, misunderstood, or tempted to go back to what was safe—Hold on.

You're not just leaving something.

You're being led.

And your Shepherd knows exactly where He's taking you.

"Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left."— Isaiah 30:21

You are not lost.

You are being called out—

And being lovingly gathered in.

Shabbat Shalom,

Beth