“Self-understanding is a hollow prize. Insight is not enough. When it comes to change, insight is the cheap part. Action is the costlier and more essential part.”
—The Power of Moments, Chip & Dan Heath

While serving on the board of a local counseling center, the director shared a telling post-COVID trend: more patients now arrive with a self-diagnosis and a polished vocabulary of therapeutic terms. But rather than seeking transformation, they’re often looking for affirmation. And if they don’t hear what they want? They’ll switch therapists that evening, thanks to apps like BetterHelp. Fewer people want to be challenged—but that’s precisely where growth begins.

Every Gospel closes with a command: Go. The Christian faith is not about accumulating insight—it’s about embodying God’s mission to a watching world.

Insight alone rarely leads to change. When we overindulge in self-analysis, chase emotional clarity, or get stuck in theological debate, we often stall—lost either in navel-gazing or with our heads in the clouds.

But true transformation happens when we act. When we take action steps—however small—insight tends to follow. Our hearts are shaped not just by what we think or feel, but more importantly by what we do.

C.S. Lewis saw this clearly. When asked about loving one’s enemies, he didn’t encourage waiting for the right emotions or deeper empathy. He wrote:

“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. … If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.”
—Mere Christianity

Likewise, in Acts 1, after Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples stand frozen, staring into the sky. Two angels interrupt their awe:

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” (Acts 1:11)

And what did the disciples do? “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem…” (Acts 1:12)

They moved. They obeyed. They acted.

The mission of God does not move forward on insight alone. It advances through faith-filled obedience. Not heads in the clouds, but hands at work.

Who has irked you this week? Don’t wait for the feeling to change. Ask God for courage and humility—and demonstrate one small act of kindness.