In this episode, Lou Huesmann unpacks a Substack post by Richard Beck about the impact of mattering in mental well-being. He talks about two types of mattering - relational and existential, or cosmic. Lou shares from the post that existential mattering is "the more robust predictor of mental health....We need our value to be grounded in something more durable and consistent than the current status of my social, familial, and romantic life. Our worthiness cannot be wholly in the hands of others."

Lou shares that Beck goes on to explain that there is an intimate connection between relational and existential mattering: "For many of us, we can only come to believe in our existential significance by experiencing being significant to others. We mediate mattering to others." By extension, we can live in such a way - love others in such a way - as to make the love of God believable!

All this lines up with the purpose and endgame of Faithwalking - we grow in our emotional maturity so we can promote wholeness and flourishing (shalom) in the relationships and world around us. We show people they matter by loving them well, and through this they discover they matter to God and that God is for them and truly loves them. This is an incredible calling, and Faithwalking helps equip us to live it out! This episode was recorded on May 22nd, 2026.