Courage to Love
Love is one of the most profound experiences we can embrace, yet it often requires incredible courage. In this fifth installment of the “Love” series from the Journey to Authentic Joy, we delve into an aspect of love that is both exciting and challenging: The Courage to Love.
To begin, let’s reflect on this poignant quote from an unknown author:
“It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you love.”
This encapsulates the heart of our discussion—not just romantic love, but the broader spectrum of love in all its forms.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
This past weekend in church, my pastor shared a powerful message on forgiveness and its importance in reconciliation. This resonated deeply with this topic because the courage to love often intersects with the courage to forgive.
Forgiveness isn’t just about releasing anger or pain—it’s about overcoming fear. Fear of being hurt again, fear of vulnerability, and fear of opening our hearts to someone who may fail us. True reconciliation calls us to love again, to rebuild trust, and to mend relationships. Whether it’s with a family member, friend, or spouse, this act of courage strengthens and sustains healthy relationships.
Love: The Greatest Commandment
Christ emphasized love as the greatest commandment, elevating it above all others. If we examine the essence of God and the opposition He faces, love stands in stark contrast to pride.
Many might think the opposite of love is hate, but I believe it’s pride. Pride distances us from love because it thrives on conditional worth—our achievements, our status, or our control. Love, in contrast, is unconditional and rooted in selflessness. Pride isolates, while love connects.
Guarding Our Hearts vs. Closing Them
The Bible advises us to guard our hearts, but this isn’t about building walls out of fear or pride. Guarding our hearts means protecting our spiritual essence—keeping it aligned with God’s will.
Too often, pride masquerades as wisdom in guarding our hearts. We fear rejection, vulnerability, or looking foolish, but these feelings are rooted in pride, not in God’s guidance. True guarding of the heart means ensuring our love remains pure, faithful, and untainted by fear or selfish motives.
Faith and Courage in Love
Living in a bustling city like Atlanta, I often marvel at how we navigate highways without second-guessing the risks. In the same way, God calls us to trust Him in love. Just as He protects us in our day-to-day journeys, He will replenish and sustain our capacity to love—even when it feels risky.
Unconditional love reflects God’s nature. It challenges us to release our need for control and trust that He will replenish our hearts when we feel depleted.
Reflection Questions
As you ponder this message, take some time to reflect on the following questions:
1. Have you ever missed out on a blessing due to fear?
Fear has a way of paralyzing us. Reflect on past opportunities you’ve let pass by and consider how courage might have changed the outcome.
2. How do new people, places, or situations make you feel?
If discomfort arises in new environments, it may reveal an underlying fear. Ask yourself whether this fear is rooted in instinct or if it’s something deeper that God is calling you to overcome.
3. Have you ever withheld something important from someone out of fear of their reaction?
Reflect on whether you’ve avoided meaningful conversations due to fear of anger, sadness, or rejection.
4. Is there a message you’ve been holding back?
If something has been on your heart for weeks or months, it’s likely worth sharing. Pray for wisdom and courage to speak with love and clarity.
Loving with courage requires faith, selflessness, and vulnerability. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. God doesn’t call us to love without equipping us to do so. He provides the strength, wisdom, and protection we need to walk boldly in love.
If this message blessed or encouraged you, I invite you to share it with someone else who might benefit from it. May we all have the courage to love deeply and live faithfully.
Blessings on your journey to authentic joy.
