It may hurt now, but it will pay off in the long run

Oftentimes we are faced with tough decisions as we go through life. As we face these tough decisions, we realize we have one of two options. Option 1: Keep doing what you're doing because you don't exactly have the means to do what you need to do. Option 2: Make the sacrifice and do the thing you know you need to do. These decisions are tough because, many times, they can be life-altering. The decisions you make could change the course of your life, your career, or someone else's life.

During my college internship at a large church in Chicago, my mentor faced a tough decision. He had a high school small group leader, who was a reformed drug addict, fall back into his old ways. My mentor did not have any "leaders in waiting" he could simply choose from to replace this guy until he got back on his feet. In fact, he had no one to replace this guy. However, he knew he had to take this guy out of his leadership position with these high school boys and figure things out later. My mentor told me that it is better to take this small group leader out of his position, even though he doesn't have a replacement, than to leave him in the leadership position and risk damaging the spiritual lives of the students. He told me we did the right thing and had to trust God would provide the person we needed. The good news is God did provide the person we needed, and the new small group leader was able to be the leader and role model these students needed.

Usually, when it comes to making a tough decision, the right or wise decision will always require some sort of sacrifice. It may mean taking a pay cut to work at a company with integrity. It may mean removing a person from leadership who is not living up to the standards expected and required of them. It may mean confronting a friend or loved one and risking them walking away from the relationship. Whatever the decision, it will always be worth the sacrifice to do the right thing. It will be painful along the way, but in the end things will work out as they should, and you will be grateful.