Doing God’s work does not guarantee an absence of opposition—and discouragement can bring even faithful believers to a standstill. Dr. Michael Youssef draws from Haggai’s message to Israel and Christ’s surrender in Gethsemane to encourage believers to resist distraction, regain spiritual momentum, and keep eternity in view.
You can be doing the right thing for the right reason—and still become discouraged enough to stop.
After decades of exile in Babylon, a faithful remnant of God’s people returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. They had chosen obedience over comfort, but fierce opposition eventually brought their work to a halt. For years, the mission God had given them remained unfinished.
In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to Haggai 1 and 2, where God confronted His discouraged people with a repeated challenge: “Consider your ways.” The Israelites needed to examine their priorities, remember their calling, and resume the work they had abandoned.
Opposition often intensifies when we begin taking God seriously. Distraction, resistance, and discouragement can tempt us to quit at precisely the moment we should persevere. Like the Israelites, we must decide whether we will follow the comfortable majority or remain part of the faithful remnant.
Jesus Himself chose obedience over the easier road. In Gethsemane, facing unimaginable suffering, He surrendered to the Father: “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Christ endured because the glory ahead was greater than the suffering before Him.
Whatever opposition you are facing today, do not allow discouragement to destroy your spiritual momentum. Reconsider your priorities, surrender your will to God, and keep moving forward. The road may be difficult, but Christ is worth following all the way to the finish line.
Pray with me.
Lord Jesus, I pray that my faith would become even stronger so that when I face discouragement, I will not give up but press on to serve You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.