Jan. 20, 2026
What Does Faithfulness Look Like Right Now?
The beginning of a year often stirs hope — fresh intentions, quiet goals, and a desire to move forward with purpose.
But what happens when progress feels slower than expected?
When momentum fades?
When the work becomes ordinary and patience is stretched?
In this episode of My Question for You, we pause with a grounding question:
What does faithfulness look like right now?
Not at the finish line.
Not once everything feels clear or successful.
But here — in the middle of steady effort, unanswered prayers, and slow growth.
Drawing from the story of Nehemiah’s steady rebuilding and anchored in Scripture like Galatians 6:9, this episode offers gentle encouragement for those who are still early in the process — reminding us that faithfulness isn’t about intensity, but consistency.
If you’ve been tempted to question your progress or give up too soon, this conversation is an invitation to stay with the work, trust God’s timing, and keep walking forward — one faithful step at a time.
✨ Encouragement for your spirit. Wisdom for your walk.
WEBVTT
00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:31.649
You know, there's something about the beginning of a new year that naturally stirs hope, their fresh intentions, quiet goals, that sense that maybe this could be a turning point.
00:00:32.369 --> 00:00:37.090
You step into January with optimism, even if you don't call it that.
00:00:37.409 --> 00:00:39.329
You make commitments to yourself.
00:00:39.409 --> 00:00:40.609
You pray differently.
00:00:40.929 --> 00:00:46.929
You imagine things changing, and then life starts lifing.
00:00:47.649 --> 00:00:49.649
Progress feels slower than you expected.
00:00:50.450 --> 00:00:51.570
Momentum stop.
00:00:51.810 --> 00:00:52.770
Comes and it goes.
00:00:52.770 --> 00:00:56.609
And the excitement you felt early on starts to meet reality.
00:00:57.329 --> 00:00:58.689
Questions creep in.
00:00:59.170 --> 00:01:01.170
Shouldn't this be easier by now?
00:01:01.649 --> 00:01:06.849
Why does this feel slower than I hoped?
00:01:01.649 --> 00:01:06.849
And am I still moving in the right direction?
00:01:07.810 --> 00:01:11.890
Hey, I'm Melissa, and this is my question for you.
00:01:12.450 --> 00:01:21.599
This is a space to slow down, breathe, and remember what's true as we keep walking forward, imperfectly but faithfully.
00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:25.760
And today's question is meant to encourage you right where you are.
00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:29.840
What does faithfulness look like right now?
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:43.920
At the start of the year, we talked about what you're carrying into this new season.
00:01:45.109 --> 00:01:53.430
Last time, we reminded ourselves that even when growth isn't visible yet, God may still be working beneath the surface.
00:01:54.150 --> 00:02:03.590
That truth is comforting, but it can also be challenging to live out because trusting God's timing sounds beautiful until you're the one who's waiting.
00:02:04.069 --> 00:02:12.069
Until your goals are taking longer, until your habits don't stick right away or your prayers don't seem to be getting answered.
00:02:13.090 --> 00:02:22.129
That's often when discouragement can slip in quietly, and not because your faith is gone, but because your patience is being stretched.
00:02:23.250 --> 00:02:25.090
Let this settle into your spirit.
00:02:25.810 --> 00:02:29.169
Early discouragement doesn't mean you were wrong to hope.
00:02:29.650 --> 00:02:34.210
It doesn't mean your goals were unrealistic or that God isn't involved.
00:02:35.009 --> 00:02:39.250
More often than not, it simply means you're still early in the process.
00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:41.800
Don't give up.
00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:45.400
We live in a world that expects fast results.
00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:50.120
We want immediate change, and we want clear proof that things are happening.
00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:53.960
But God's work has always moved differently.
00:02:54.439 --> 00:03:05.879
And if we're not careful, we can confuse slow progress with no progress and start to lose heart before the story even has time to unfold.
00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:11.080
There's a story in the book of Nehemiah that speaks directly to this.
00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:18.439
Nehemiah is given the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, walls that have been broken down for years.
00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.560
The work doesn't happen all at once.
00:03:22.038 --> 00:03:26.520
There's opposition, delays, and moments of discouragement.
00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:34.909
At one point, Scripture says that people work with one hand, building, building in the other hand, holding a weapon.
00:03:35.789 --> 00:03:41.550
Not because progress was dramatic, but because faithfulness required persistence.
00:03:42.270 --> 00:03:49.629
And what stands out to me is the walls were rebuilt section by section.
00:03:50.349 --> 00:03:54.509
It wasn't done quickly or easily, but it was done steadily.
00:03:55.389 --> 00:03:58.110
Nehemiah didn't quit when the work was slow.
00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:06.000
He stayed with it, trusting that obedience over time would accomplish what enthusiasm alone never could.
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:20.720
9 feels so fitting Here it says, let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:23.519
Notice what the verse doesn't say.
00:04:24.250 --> 00:04:28.329
It doesn't promise immediate results, and it doesn't guarantee ease.
00:04:29.050 --> 00:04:35.050
Instead, it reminds us that timing matters and that perseverance has purpose.
00:04:35.930 --> 00:04:40.730
One of my favorite verses is James, Chapter one, verses two through four.
00:04:41.129 --> 00:05:02.180
It says, consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:16.980
God is never careless with time, and he is never late and he is never wasting the early steps so what does faithfulness look like right now?
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:29.199
Sometimes it looks like continuing even when motivation fades, or adjusting our expectations rather than just giving up and abandoning them altogether.
00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:46.110
It may look like recommitting quietly to that thing that you wanted so bad, or that change that you were seeking to make without making a big declaration or having to post it or share it with everyone, but just resetting and restarting, recommitting to those goals.
00:05:46.990 --> 00:05:49.310
Faithfulness isn't about intensity.
00:05:49.870 --> 00:05:51.470
It's about consistency.
00:05:52.430 --> 00:05:56.990
It's choosing to stay engaged when progress feels slower than you hoped.
00:05:57.389 --> 00:06:03.389
And that kind of faithfulness matters more than short bursts of inspirations ever will.
00:06:04.589 --> 00:06:09.550
So if you're feeling discouraged early in this year, I want you to hear this clearly.
00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:15.319
You don't need to start over or to question everything you hoped for.
00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:19.079
And you don't need to push harder just to prove something.
00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:23.079
What you need is to just stay with it.
00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:29.800
Keep walking, keep trusting God's timing and taking the next step that's right in front of you.
00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:35.959
Faithfulness in this season might simply mean refusing to give up too soon.
00:06:37.829 --> 00:06:40.310
So here's my question again for you today.
00:06:41.509 --> 00:06:48.709
What does faithfulness look like right now as you keep moving forward, even if progress feels slow?
00:06:49.670 --> 00:06:53.350
Let that question encourage you and not weigh you down.
00:06:53.829 --> 00:06:58.230
Because faithfulness isn't fragile, it's resilient.
00:06:58.790 --> 00:07:01.589
Stay strong and keep moving forward.
00:07:10.990 --> 00:07:17.389
If this year began with hope and it's already testing your patience, do not be discouraged.
00:07:18.189 --> 00:07:23.949
God is still working, his timing is still perfect, and what he has started in you.
00:07:24.350 --> 00:07:26.430
He knows how to complete.
00:07:27.149 --> 00:07:28.269
So don't lose heart.
00:07:28.810 --> 00:07:38.089
Don't let slow progress steal your confidence or your joy, and don't give up on what God is building one steady step at a time.
00:07:39.290 --> 00:07:46.089
Until next time, I want you to keep asking, keep listening, and keep walking forward with trust.
00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:56.740
Before you go.
00:07:57.060 --> 00:08:01.379
If today's question stayed with you, I'd love to keep the conversation going.
00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:16.420
Each week I send a short email called this Week's Question A Quiet Invitation, and it's a simple reflection to help you stay grounded, to pay attention, to dive deeper into God's word, and to walk with God throughout your week.
00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:24.339
You can sign up at my question for you.com bringing you encouragement for your spirit and wisdom for your walk.
00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:31.649
You know, there's something about the beginning of a new year that naturally stirs hope, their fresh intentions, quiet goals, that sense that maybe this could be a turning point.
00:00:32.369 --> 00:00:37.090
You step into January with optimism, even if you don't call it that.
00:00:37.409 --> 00:00:39.329
You make commitments to yourself.
00:00:39.409 --> 00:00:40.609
You pray differently.
00:00:40.929 --> 00:00:46.929
You imagine things changing, and then life starts lifing.
00:00:47.649 --> 00:00:49.649
Progress feels slower than you expected.
00:00:50.450 --> 00:00:51.570
Momentum stop.
00:00:51.810 --> 00:00:52.770
Comes and it goes.
00:00:52.770 --> 00:00:56.609
And the excitement you felt early on starts to meet reality.
00:00:57.329 --> 00:00:58.689
Questions creep in.
00:00:59.170 --> 00:01:01.170
Shouldn't this be easier by now?
00:01:01.649 --> 00:01:06.849
Why does this feel slower than I hoped?
00:01:01.649 --> 00:01:06.849
And am I still moving in the right direction?
00:01:07.810 --> 00:01:11.890
Hey, I'm Melissa, and this is my question for you.
00:01:12.450 --> 00:01:21.599
This is a space to slow down, breathe, and remember what's true as we keep walking forward, imperfectly but faithfully.
00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:25.760
And today's question is meant to encourage you right where you are.
00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:29.840
What does faithfulness look like right now?
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:43.920
At the start of the year, we talked about what you're carrying into this new season.
00:01:45.109 --> 00:01:53.430
Last time, we reminded ourselves that even when growth isn't visible yet, God may still be working beneath the surface.
00:01:54.150 --> 00:02:03.590
That truth is comforting, but it can also be challenging to live out because trusting God's timing sounds beautiful until you're the one who's waiting.
00:02:04.069 --> 00:02:12.069
Until your goals are taking longer, until your habits don't stick right away or your prayers don't seem to be getting answered.
00:02:13.090 --> 00:02:22.129
That's often when discouragement can slip in quietly, and not because your faith is gone, but because your patience is being stretched.
00:02:23.250 --> 00:02:25.090
Let this settle into your spirit.
00:02:25.810 --> 00:02:29.169
Early discouragement doesn't mean you were wrong to hope.
00:02:29.650 --> 00:02:34.210
It doesn't mean your goals were unrealistic or that God isn't involved.
00:02:35.009 --> 00:02:39.250
More often than not, it simply means you're still early in the process.
00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:41.800
Don't give up.
00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:45.400
We live in a world that expects fast results.
00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:50.120
We want immediate change, and we want clear proof that things are happening.
00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:53.960
But God's work has always moved differently.
00:02:54.439 --> 00:03:05.879
And if we're not careful, we can confuse slow progress with no progress and start to lose heart before the story even has time to unfold.
00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:11.080
There's a story in the book of Nehemiah that speaks directly to this.
00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:18.439
Nehemiah is given the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, walls that have been broken down for years.
00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.560
The work doesn't happen all at once.
00:03:22.038 --> 00:03:26.520
There's opposition, delays, and moments of discouragement.
00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:34.909
At one point, Scripture says that people work with one hand, building, building in the other hand, holding a weapon.
00:03:35.789 --> 00:03:41.550
Not because progress was dramatic, but because faithfulness required persistence.
00:03:42.270 --> 00:03:49.629
And what stands out to me is the walls were rebuilt section by section.
00:03:50.349 --> 00:03:54.509
It wasn't done quickly or easily, but it was done steadily.
00:03:55.389 --> 00:03:58.110
Nehemiah didn't quit when the work was slow.
00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:06.000
He stayed with it, trusting that obedience over time would accomplish what enthusiasm alone never could.
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:20.720
00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:23.519
00:04:24.250 --> 00:04:28.329
00:04:29.050 --> 00:04:35.050
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