The Only Thing That Matters is Faith Expressing Itself Through Love

Y'all, I started therapy this month.

Some of us may think that therapy is for those who are in desperate situations with their mental health or marriage -- this isn't the case with me, though. I started therapy because, after much introspection and self-reflection, I've realized that talking about my feelings is really hard for me, and I want to be better. I also struggle with anxiety and insomnia; therapy could potentially help me with these issues.

Now, pastors aren't supposed to need therapy. Or, at the very least, we aren't supposed to talk about it. But what if we were all more vulnerable and honest about our struggles? How would our churches, youth groups, family's, and relationships change?

Therapy isn't fun or easy for me, but it's been the right thing for me to do in my current season of life. Thinking about this has lead to me thinking about how, so often, doing the right thing will usually mean doing the harder thing, too.

Why is it that "right" and "easy" barely seem to coexist?

Last month, my husband and I made a pretty big decision that's involved my teenage sister-in-law moving in with us.

(Those who have raised or are raising teenagers -- I get it, now. Yes, I work with teens, but living with one is totally different. You were right.)

(Just kidding. My sissy-n-law is a total babe and I adore her with my whole heart; she's dependable, loyal, tidy, and hilarious. It's not like I'm out here suffering with a delinquent situation.)

We made the tough call of opening our home to sweet Sister, despite how different our lives would look as a result. It was not the easy call, whatsoever. Husband is in med-school, and I'm a full time YP/worship leader. Having an 18 year old move into our tiny two-bedroom with her kitten and leopard gecko (a GECKO, y'all) was a big life choice.

But it was the right one, given the circumstances.

Wherever you are right now -- whatever path you find yourself on -- you will undoubtedly come to a place where you must make a decision: the right choice or the easy one? Because I promise you, these two choices rarely intersect, and they always matter.

A verse that the Spirit has tattooed onto my heart these last few weeks is Galatians 3:5: "...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

Wow.

WOW.

Faith expressing itself through love will almost always require courage, and will most likely cost us something. Love is hard -- it's never, ever easy. And it doesn't matter what kind of love we talk about -- be it romantic, familial, or whatever; love looks like sacrifice. Love looks like giving up comfort, safety, and the familiar. Love means choosing someone else over yourself, over-and-over again.

The right thing will always be a sacrifice of another potential outcome because when we choose to do X, then Y can no longer happen.

And choosing love means choosing to give up something now; it means giving up yourself.

But you know what? Love is always the right choice.

It just is, friends. It always will be.