When the Best Decision is to “Stay the Course” 

I totally want to escape my PhD in the final stages of my dissertation. Stay the course. Please pray for me to finish. Thanks for the encouragement Fr. Mike / God.

Never doubt in the Dark what God told you in the Light. - V. Raymond Edman

Thank you Fr. I needed to hear this. I will join the Dominicans sisters in my country in January 2024.

"Don't leave the ship when the ship needs to be steered" is an encouraging idea and one I needed to hear today. Just putting it out there that not all ships can be steered out of the storm though! Don't make yourself stay in an abusive relationships or toxic workplace waiting for things to get better.

I was just praying for stability in everything in my life and I got a notification about a new post from Father Mike Schmitz about having “ the virtue of stability.” Wow!! God hears your prayers y’all!! You matter to Him!! Yes, I am going to “Stay the Course” even though it is rough. Peace to all of you.

Most people think this applies to men considering leaving seminary, but it can also apply to men considering leaving their Godly relationship for the priesthood! My girlfriend (who I will marry soon) has made me a much better man of God and vise-versa, it’s truly a sensational relationship and marriage is talked about all the time happily. (And as we know, Satan hates nothing more than a truly holy matrimony.) I have no desire at all to become a priest, but I thought that the thought “am I called to be a priest” popping into my head was a sign from God! But after riding that alarming thought out for a while and taking it to adoration, I’ve calmed down and realized I’m called to this beautiful relationship. Minor “scares” and intrusive thoughts are no reason to jump ship. God bless!

“Never make a life-changing decision in the midst of desolation” ❤️

Perfect timing as per usual ! So Thankful for Father Mike's ministry !! (Who else feels like Father Mike's videos are directly sent to him/her in time of needs ?)

I'm currently in the final few months of my PhD and it is grueling right now. Please pray that I finish and stay the course until it is done. Thanks for the great video Father Mike.

I just came up on the verse “let your yes be yes and you’re no be no” while I was trying to find what to do about a relationship. Whether to end it or not and then came up on this video. Thank you. I’ll ride this wave of emotions out and wait until God tells me what to do. He always does.

Thank you Father Mike. I'm currently working two jobs in my last semester in Uni. They're good but I'm so tired all the time that I want to quit 😢 but I remember how hard it was to get these jobs in the first place and how happy I was when I got them... Please pray for me... I also don't want this to affect my grades negatively.

St. Joseph’s decisions were made from a dream he would have So if a person needs to make a decision on something important then we say Sleep on it 🙏🙏 Fr.Mike wishing you a very happy St.Patrick’s day and don’t forget to make an Irish exit 🇮🇪 ☘️ God Bless you From Ireland

The worst time to change direction is in the middle of a storm. Bingo. When I did the Ignatian exercises I was told to never forget Rule 5. It serves me well. Almost always I'm acting out of fear. Its hard I say I'm all in for you but who are you? I can't find you in this desolation. Wait; and Fr. Mike etc. will come along and remind us whats going on even if it is simply to remain in this current desolation. Its O.K.

Let your yes be yes, and to make changes from a place of consolation is a way to live in peace. God gives us that choice. Thanks. Blessings, Father Mike!

Prayers to everyone. God Bless you ALL.

The timing of these videos never ceases to amaze me!

Pray for the virtue of Stability for me and for my dad and mom and for the people whom I meet.

Thanks Fr. Very true. During the “storm” is the worst time to listen to your gut. That’s the “amygdala hijack”.

Key point that Fr. Mike made: when God wants you to change direction He will let you know in no uncertain terms…it will be unmistakable. In my experience He will even reinforce the message if you have doubt. At least that’s my experience. God Bless you all!!

I've been struggling with cognitive dissonance between worldly relationships and my faith since Christmas, and this video popped up just after I was texting an old friend about it. Praise be to God

I told God that I've already had enough of overthinking and I pray for clear signs to happen. Otherwise, I just try to take life step by step, no jumpy moves. Still, much as I need to work on finding more time for God, this little tactic of mine works quite well.

I hear a lot of voices, everyday in silence. And now I get the feeling I’m shutting myself off

A Midwest goodbye is more endearing than an Irish one, if that's any consolation. 🙂

Wow. I was praying about making a change in my life, and I heard, “Just wait,” in my head. Then I opened RU-vid and this was the first video in my queue. Thank you, Lord, for helping me in my distress. Thank you Fr. Mike for this video. God is truly working through you- thanks for letting Him! I choose to stay the course and not make a decision in a place of desolation. Amen Oh, also… Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️😇✝️

I know someone I am related to who has pulled an irish exit notoriously. I didn't know there was a name for that. We are irish descent so that makes sense.

I did exactly that. I entered the novitiate for the caption Franciscans, knowing that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I told the Lord,” if you want me to stay, and here I am.“ he decided at the end of my novitiate year that I was done with formation, and the fryers voted for me not to continue. Sometimes the Holy Spirit’s lessons are harsh, but I don’t regret either going, nor leaving. God is good!

Thank you. I was asking God to guide me in an audible voice and then suddenly this video..thank you.👍🙏

This was excellent counsel and just what God wanted me to hear. Thank you, Father Mike.

Thank you for this message! Jesus I trust in you.

This came at the perfect time. I’m in the middle of a dilema of immigrating to another country. Not that my current situation is bad. It’s just that an opportunity to migrate has opened. The thing is I’m not sure if I should do it or not & if I’m just deciding because I feel uncomfortable with my current situation. But it’s not that bad at all. In fact I still consider myself so blessed & lucky. But at the same time, I feel like if I don’t take this chance then I might miss out on a good oportunity. But migrating to another country is not also a guarantee of success. Thank you Fr. Mike for this. In a way, this message gave me comfort & I’ll just trust the Lord with the outcome of my application.

Our deepest condolences, Fr. Mike.. praying for your mothers soul and healing for your family.

Thanks. I Love You. Father Mike 😅

Prayers for you and your family after your mother's passing. 🙏 This topic finally helped me make sense of a decision I made when I was 27, 58 years ago. I always thought I let God "down". Now I realize I followed my real vocation. Thank you.

Thank you, Father. I needed this. I'd been worrying about a vocation I had no interest in, and I realized it was coming from a place of anxiety.

I was just praying about that!!

Thanks Fr Mike, for clearing up a potentially confusing situation. Sometimes we get too wrapped up in things, to see clearly. Waiting, rather than making too quick a decision, is better in the long run. God Bless. Claire.

Irish priests come from Ireland! These are the insights I come for! :D

Thank you Fr. Mike. I wish I had let my “no be no” for some things, but I can’t go back and change it now. Please pray for me brothers and sisters, that I will get through the difficulties I’m facing. I’m praying for you all as well.

As always, great advice! And there was actually a humorous component to this video, too. Coming from an Irish family, we are familiar with the "Irish Exit". We call them the "Irish Goodbye", but it's actually the opposite thing: whenever we are going to leave an event/gathering/etc., we start saying our goodbyes. But an hour later, we still haven't even reached the door! 🤣 🤣

I hope your Lent is going well Fr. Mike!!

Thank you father Mike

Thanks from Croatia, God bless you🙌🏻

Hi Fr Mike, I am going to do a three day bread and water fast for peace between Russia and Ukraine. I am not interested in how God does it or who "wins" all I am asking God for is peace. If any one is interested in joining me please do and remember to pray for peace only.

I'm trying to think of going abroad and working there but I don't want to leave my parents who are already 60+ yrs old. But I have a long term plan on being self-employed. Still wise to choose to stay since I know it would be better for the long run.

Thank you, Father. I have been very confused lately. I has been a good journey where I finally to confession after many years. Through the mercy of GOD and the grace of Holy Spirit I have remembered many things I did, but I get confused easily and I get nervous easy but I trust I will be finally confess fully to be forgiven, to be back and to finally receive my Lord

Just keep working on your dissertation. That’s a huge accomplishment. If you are working and then health or something else your cannot control steps in to stop you from going on with it, then that would be one thing. But if you can physically and mentally do it why not?! That’s amazing that you’ve gotten this far!

This is a video to save and watch again in times of desperation.

All Glory to God! God Bless Father Mike for his leading Catholics in truth! May God continue to bless him with this great grace so desperately needed at a time such as this!

Stay on course….keep the faith….Jesus loves you!

It seems that there's a few graduate students here that want to stay the course despite the gruelling tasks. I totally get that, but maybe hear my take on it. I don't mean to dissuade, but just to share my story and have some people listen. I went to grad school thinking it was my dream job to be a scientist. It was a horrible experience, from the treatment of others to just my motivation to keep going dwindling as days went by. I swear I feel I did my research beforehand about how grad school is like, during, and after. And I wanted to quit. I actually stumbled upon Father Mike's video on choosing, and it still resonates with me today. And that's along the lines of 'you have to choose, otherwise there's also a consequence if you don't choose.' And for me, I wanted to stay the course. But I had so much doubts about it career wise as it was going nowhere, and it was gonna end with me being in the same position as I was in before I went to grad school - lab tech - and so it seemed useless to continue. For 1 year I stuck through it and it was numbing. I wasn't motivated to do work, I didn't understand what I was studying, I felt like I couldn't speak, figuratively and literally (I'm a quiet person but felt even more quiet and shut down). Medically, I could've been diagnosed as depressed. I lost weight. I felt like no one was there for me. I had no support, both in the lab and outside of it. And then it hit hard, my mental health suffered, and I was hospitalized. And it was the lowest point of my life. I went for a break for a year to get my mental health back in order. I worked for a bit, thinking I would clear my head. It did, but it only clarified my intuition and feelings that it's not the path I wanna be in anymore. I worked in a lab, part time and full time, and it felt the same as before grad school. I felt stuck. Then the decision had to be made about going back. And I tiptoed with doing a half measure of going back to grad school but doing it online. And then it hit again. I got hospitalized again. It took a long time to reconcile my fears of failure and judgment from others. But it was clear I couldn't stay the course. I tell myself now that I stuck through it the best I can even if everything felt like it was against me. Maybe I abandoned ship, but maybe I also was steering the wheel, because I needed to change something about my life. I worked hard to get my GPA up, put my ego aside as I withdrew from grad school, and applied for an undergraduate program, again. I still worked part time in two labs, just to really see if I'm done with research and science in general. And after some time, I think I've really gotten over it, my passion for science research. I'm slowly steering course to a new path and I'm getting better. I'm happier, and I'm excited for the future, as all that pain led me to today. And finally, I got accepted into an after-degree program that I feel would lead me to new opportunities. So, today, I wanna remind myself that it's okay to steer course, but with the right thinking. And I feel like it took me a long time to figure that out; it took my mental health to deteriorate to give me a sign that there're other doors to open in life. It'll take some time, it'll hurt, maybe, but there're more chapters to read, and it's better to keep going than get stuck. Here's to staying course, and here's to choosing and consequences.

🔥 🔥 🔥! This is why I listen to you Father Mike. Pure wisdom from heaven to earth. God bless you.

This is the second time I heard someone talk about the idea of letting God lead, instead of trying to lead God. Like I want to start serving in my church, and there are so many good ways that I’m just like okay where do you want me. But I haven’t even taken the time to talk with the team leaders, or even church pastors! I have to trust in my Lord, the same Lord who created me with my giftings. He knows where He wants me, and He’ll lead me to serve that won’t compromise my main ministry, which is my home

I needed to hear this today. I struggle with staying that course in certain areas in my life. In my situation I have noticed I have lost much discernment so I am relying on Godly council. Thank you. FR. MIKE.

I've been "staying the course" for years. Still waiting for God to tell me what He wants. Pretty hopeless.

BLESS YOU AMEN

This is very wise advice and it makes very good sense. The old saying comes to mind "any port in a storm" in which a person will take any kind of comfort and safety in the midst of chaos or difficulty. And that does not allow for quiet, calm discernment for what could be the most important decision in your life. Let our yes mean yes and our no mean no.

Aye Serrrrrr, stay the course

Thank you father . God bless .. I need your prayers at this time , plz remember in your prayers thank you .. ❤️🙏🏻

Excellent Fr. Mike. Thanks.

Thank you so much. I needed to hear this.

Thank for this reminder!

Good afternoon. This day has gone by too quick. I was begged for help by a man running down the street!!! He was recently tied up and locked in a basement. He escaped and the woman was chasing him! Please pray for him and for true justice to be served!!! Incredible. I wanted to help more but I'm a heartbeat away from being in the exact same predicament. God is Good!!!!!!!!!!! The man managed to make it into a gas station to ask for help and I pray he finds the greatest to help! He possibly needs it. In JCNIPA. 🙏. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹Let freedom ring!!!.

Thank you Father Schmitz!

❤ Thank you..

Thank you Father Mike Schmitz!!

Father Mike your videos are always so encouraging, a beacon of light during challenging times. I just decided to take a break in my romantic relationship and it’s been so difficult - I want to keep my eyes on God and His will, grow in Christ likeness and live out my faith in all situations

Dear God I needed to hear this today. I am in a time of desolation at my job, but I’ve said from the beginning that God literally held me by the hand and hand delivered me into that position and only he will walk me out. Dear Lord continue to guide my steps, and I offer everything I’m going through to you. Amen.

*clearly. God Bless!

I just heard your Sunday Homily and learned about your Mom's passing. I'm so sorry and please know you and your family are in my prayers, even more than usual.

I was just thinking I needed to listen to Father Mike and this came up. God is so good!

So good, I have been in the process of listening for God and what direction I should go. I know he is calling me to serve him more, but the question is how. I will stay the course for the time being.

Very timely for me. Thank you

Always follow the Peace of the Lord ❤

In my country (Poland) 'Irish Exit' is actually called 'English Exit' :)

Thank you

Father Mike, so many of us were made to change course during covid - and not by our own choice. I lost a wonderful job, at the top of my game, and while it’s now 3 years, still haven’t made peace with the decision or with myself.

I really appreciate this because I'm applying to seminary for diocesan priesthood, but I just ended a weekend retreat at a Benedictine monastery, and that has got me thinking about being a monk, possibly a monk-priest, instead of a diocesan priest. This video was most welcome. Thank you, Fr. Mike, and praise be to God.

I love this so much! Thank you Fr Mike 🙏 God bless

Thank you Fr.Mike May our Lord Of Divine Mercy - fill you with many ,many blessing, I really need it to hear your message...🙏

Thank you so much.😢

Thank you very much, Father Mike!🤗 It is very helpful to me!❤️

I needed to hear this right now. Last week I was so demoralized because my passion for pursuing my master’s degree has been fleeting. I wanted to quit. But I know those feelings were out of fear and desolation. Thank you father Mike

Yall, pray for me! ❤ i made a year commitment to a teaching mission abroad. Im REALLY struggling with mental health and some sexual harrassment. I want to leave, but dont feel comfortable with the decision. I just want clarity and quickly.😅 pray for me to recieve patience and wisdom

A. I love the Irish exit and use it frequently. B. Your message was spot on. God bless you!

Thanks so much, father Schmitz, i am a Protestant living in Berlin but love your spiritual and theological counsel

Thank you Father

Thanks Mike!

Yes, it make totally sense! Thanks so much, Father Mike Schmitz!!!

Father Mike, I believe God spoke to me through a man named Patrick. He told me that I am his messiah. I am convinced he has used me as his messiah due to the memories that he has brought back

Thank you for giving your time to all, I enjoy the readings and reflections! Peace be with all.

Gracias,gracias,gracias!

Discernment is a road very few can understand the back and forth is definitely understandable I've done that. But yes to go the full way it's to make that Decision to stay the course it's very true

you have NO idea how much I needed this. it is helping me to make sense of so much. thank you Fr. Mike and God bless you!

Happy St. Patrick's day!

Where I live it’s called the “Irish Goodbye”

Thanks, Father. I'm on the end of the second week of a job that God made very clear He helped me get and I am getting quite a bit of anxiety/imposter syndrome/nagging thoughts that I should have just taken the dive into seminary instead. But I'm almost three weeks in and if God wants me in this job for whatever reason, then I have to stay the course until He says otherwise. And you're right- you'll know it when it happens

God bless you, Fr. Mike!

Thankk you Fr. Mike for staying on your course to priesthood for you have changed so many lives because of your call to priesthood. Thank you God for such a good priest.

Ooo father Mike I had a hard time listening to this video because it was way to real for me. I am faithful to God but I still struggle a little with the What If. I don’t know why I have this fear of disappointing him ? But I do trust him. I appreciate this message Father Mike .

Loved this🙏❤️🙏