Skip to main content

"Same Jesus, Different Pew" by Estella Kirk: When Church Feels Foreign But Faith Feels True


"Same Jesus, Different Pew" by Estella Kirk is one of the songs on her upcoming EP, "Growing Pains." In "Same Jesus, Different Pew," she zooms in on that feeling of loneliness that can creep in when you're worshiping somewhere new, maybe with unfamiliar faces, and wondering if this will ever feel like home. Even though your familiar pew's gone, Jesus doesn't change. 

Estella Kirk - Same Jesus, different pewEstella recalls the red walls and creaky floors of her old church, smiling through sermons but still feeling out of place. This isn't a song about loss, and she's not pretending that change is easy. The beautiful message here is that Jesus never changes, even when everything else does. 

Estella sings about "seeking first" and still "finding You here," lyrics that hint at Matthew 6:33. Although the people around you may be new or the location may be different, the chorus reminds us it is still the "same Jesus, different pew." ("Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8) 

There's a beautiful tension in feeling homesick for the past and at the same time recognizing that God is always present. A tension that reminds us of Psalm 139, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." God's presence isn't zip-code dependent. 

So, whether you're in your Sunday best or at your worst, in familiar settings or someplace new, God meets you right where you are. Maybe you're in the middle of a change, doubting, or you're just… tired. May this song remind you that you're never lost. He loves you, and He's always nearby. It is comforting to know that He will always be the "Same Jesus."

(Related scripture: Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 13:8; Psalm 139:7–10; Psalm 139:16)

Connect with Estella Kirk

Tags:

Popular posts

"The List Goes On (Jordan's Song)" by Chris Sarver: Finding Freedom in Faith

Have you ever felt the weight of the past (old chains) even after you're free? Chris Sarver's "The List Goes On (Jordan's Song)" addresses this specific struggle. Chris shared the following: "Like many of you, I have been part of text thread groups whose main purpose is for encouragement and prayer. … About four years ago, in one of those men's groups, my friend from church, Jordan Hanks, shared a message you can see in the picture. It was simple. He wrote about how sometimes we feel the old weight we carried before Jesus lifted it. And when that weight tries to creep back in, he reminds himself of the names Jesus has earned in his life. He is a Healer." In other words, when shame whispers lies, we must speak truth louder. The lyrics confess, "The chains are gone, sometimes I still find that I can feel their weight." Instead of hiding this feeling, Chris Sarver turns it into a moment of worship. He calls out names that Jesus has earned in...
More >>

"Man I Used To Be" by Dax: Half the Weight, Double the Faith

"Man I Used To Be" by Dax is a very personal song. Dax had promised himself that he wouldn't release new music until he'd stayed sober for six months, the time he needed to get his priorities straight and clear his mind. "Man I Used To Be" is the sound of his first clean breath, life with God by his side. Dax lays it bare: "Trials and tribulations, all my past trauma," he acknowledges, along with "generational curses from daddy and mama," and the "addictions that clouded my eyes." The honesty about his past struggles makes the message of this song so relatable and powerful.  The chorus is about the moment that the script was flipped, "I'm half the man I used to be." Not a broken man, but a man who has been freed from the burdens that weren't his to carry and kept him from God. "I don't ever chase, I got God," declaring that his new identity is anchored in faith. It's a shrug and a testimo...
More >>

"Praise You In The Morning" by Taylor Pride: Waking up to the sound of Worship

(by Jasper Tan) Taylor Pride's latest single, "Praise You In The Morning" is an uplifting song that is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness in different seasons and circumstances. The song is an acknowledgement that even if we are facing hardships and difficulties, we should still continue to praise God, for he is our provider and protector. And that he has promised to redeem us in his perfect time. The song follows an established style of Taylor's "heart-on-your-sleeve" type of worship song, drawing inspiration for this song's music from the likes of Cody Carnes and Phil Wickham's songs, the likes of which are simple with an easy-to-sing chorus layered by joyful sounds. The lyrics serve as a prayer for those in the "desert seasons," suggesting that praise is a choice made even in times of uncertainty with our faith. The song uses the transition from night to day as a metaphor for moving from weeping to hope. It is a modern worship...
More >>