SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST 2026

IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL

Topic: Do Not Give Up on Your Dream

Bible Reference

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

A Short Story

Esther had always loved fashion. Even as a teenager, she enjoyed drawing clothing designs in her notebooks and helping her friends choose what to wear. After completing her education, she decided that she wanted to build a fashion business. She believed that it was something she could become good at and that it could eventually provide a source of income for her and her family.

However, the beginning was not easy. Esther did not have enough money to buy all the equipment she wanted. She started with a small sewing machine and worked from a corner of her mother's house. Her first few customers were people she knew, but some of them complained about her work. One customer refused to pay the full amount because she was not satisfied with the finishing.

Esther became discouraged. She began to wonder whether she had made a mistake by choosing fashion. She saw other young designers on social media displaying beautiful shops, expensive machines, and large numbers of customers. Compared with them, her business looked very small.

One afternoon, after another difficult week, Esther told her friend Sharon that she was thinking about giving up.

Sharon listened and then asked her, What if you are not failing? What if you are simply still learning?

That question changed Esther's thinking. She realised that she had expected success to come quickly. She had forgotten that every skilled person had once been a beginner.

Instead of quitting, Esther began looking for ways to improve. She watched tutorials, asked experienced designers questions, practised every day, and listened carefully to customer complaints. She stopped using other people's success to measure her own progress.

The business did not become successful overnight. Esther still had difficult months, but she kept improving. With time, her work became better, her customers became more satisfied, and more people began recommending her.

Years later, Esther looked back at the little corner where she had started. She realised that the biggest decision she had made was not buying better equipment or getting her first major customer. It was choosing not to quit when things became difficult.

Today's Message

Many young people have dreams, but not everyone has the patience to keep working when the dream becomes difficult.

You may have a business idea, a career goal, a ministry vision, a desire to write a book, a plan to learn a skill, or a dream of becoming financially independent. You may begin with excitement, but after a few disappointments, you may start wondering whether you should stop.

Failure can make you question yourself. Rejection can make you feel unqualified. Slow progress can make you believe that nothing is happening. Seeing other people succeed faster can make you feel like giving up.

But slow progress does not mean that your dream is dead.

Galatians 6:9 tells us not to become weary in doing good because there is a proper time for harvest. The verse does not promise that everything will happen immediately. It reminds us that persistence matters.

Sometimes you are closer to a breakthrough than you realise, but you stop because you become tired.

Think about a farmer. After planting a seed, the farmer does not dig it up every morning to check whether it is growing. He waters it, protects it, and gives it time. Growth takes place even when he cannot see it immediately.

Your life can be like that.

You may be studying today without seeing the result yet. You may be learning a skill without earning much money yet. You may be building a business without having many customers yet. You may be serving God without seeing the impact yet. You may be working on yourself without seeing the changes immediately.

Keep going.

However, refusing to give up does not mean refusing to change your approach. Sometimes the dream is good, but your method is wrong. If something is not working, learn, adjust, and try again. Ask questions. Improve your skills. Seek advice. Correct your mistakes.

Persistence is not stubbornness. Persistence means continuing toward a worthwhile goal while being willing to learn and improve along the way.

You also need to stop comparing your beginning with somebody else's middle. You may see someone who has already built a successful business, written several books, established a ministry, or achieved financial stability. Remember that you may not know how many years that person spent learning and struggling before the results became visible.

Do not despise your small beginning.

Your first business may be small. Your first sermon may be imperfect. Your first book may not sell many copies. Your first job may not be your dream job. Your first attempt at something may fail.

That does not mean you should stop.

Learn from it and continue.

There will be days when you feel motivated and days when you do not. Discipline becomes important when motivation disappears. You cannot build your future based only on how you feel each morning.

Some days, you will have to keep working because you have already decided that the goal is worth pursuing.

At the same time, remember that not every dream must be pursued forever. If God redirects you, if you discover that your plans are wrong, or if wise counsel shows you that you need to take a different path, be willing to adjust. Giving up on one plan is not the same as giving up on your purpose.

What matters is that you continue moving toward the life God wants you to build.

Do not let one failure become the final chapter of your story.

You may have failed an examination. You may have lost a job. Your business may have failed. Someone may have rejected you. A relationship may have ended. An opportunity may have passed you by.

Learn from it.

Get up.

Pray again.

Plan again.

Try again.

Your present difficulty does not have to determine your final outcome.

What To Do Today

1. Write down one important goal you have almost given up on.

2. Identify the main reason you became discouraged and decide what you can do differently.

3. Take one practical step toward that goal today, even if the step is small.

4. Ask a mature and trustworthy person for advice on how you can improve.

Prayer

Lord, give me strength when I become tired and discouraged. Help me not to abandon the good things You have placed in my heart simply because they are taking time. Give me wisdom to learn from my mistakes, courage to try again, and discipline to keep working. If You need to redirect my plans, help me recognise Your direction. But where You have called me to continue, give me grace not to give up. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Daily Challenge

Return to one good goal you abandoned because of disappointment and take one practical step toward it today.

You may not see the harvest yet, but keep planting, keep learning, keep working, and keep trusting God.

Anthony Ijere
Christian Author and Revivalist
SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST 2026 IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL Topic: Do Not Give Up on Your Dream Bible Reference Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) A Short Story Esther had always loved fashion. Even as a teenager, she enjoyed drawing clothing designs in her notebooks and helping her friends choose what to wear. After completing her education, she decided that she wanted to build a fashion business. She believed that it was something she could become good at and that it could eventually provide a source of income for her and her family. However, the beginning was not easy. Esther did not have enough money to buy all the equipment she wanted. She started with a small sewing machine and worked from a corner of her mother's house. Her first few customers were people she knew, but some of them complained about her work. One customer refused to pay the full amount because she was not satisfied with the finishing. Esther became discouraged. She began to wonder whether she had made a mistake by choosing fashion. She saw other young designers on social media displaying beautiful shops, expensive machines, and large numbers of customers. Compared with them, her business looked very small. One afternoon, after another difficult week, Esther told her friend Sharon that she was thinking about giving up. Sharon listened and then asked her, What if you are not failing? What if you are simply still learning? That question changed Esther's thinking. She realised that she had expected success to come quickly. She had forgotten that every skilled person had once been a beginner. Instead of quitting, Esther began looking for ways to improve. She watched tutorials, asked experienced designers questions, practised every day, and listened carefully to customer complaints. She stopped using other people's success to measure her own progress. The business did not become successful overnight. Esther still had difficult months, but she kept improving. With time, her work became better, her customers became more satisfied, and more people began recommending her. Years later, Esther looked back at the little corner where she had started. She realised that the biggest decision she had made was not buying better equipment or getting her first major customer. It was choosing not to quit when things became difficult. Today's Message Many young people have dreams, but not everyone has the patience to keep working when the dream becomes difficult. You may have a business idea, a career goal, a ministry vision, a desire to write a book, a plan to learn a skill, or a dream of becoming financially independent. You may begin with excitement, but after a few disappointments, you may start wondering whether you should stop. Failure can make you question yourself. Rejection can make you feel unqualified. Slow progress can make you believe that nothing is happening. Seeing other people succeed faster can make you feel like giving up. But slow progress does not mean that your dream is dead. Galatians 6:9 tells us not to become weary in doing good because there is a proper time for harvest. The verse does not promise that everything will happen immediately. It reminds us that persistence matters. Sometimes you are closer to a breakthrough than you realise, but you stop because you become tired. Think about a farmer. After planting a seed, the farmer does not dig it up every morning to check whether it is growing. He waters it, protects it, and gives it time. Growth takes place even when he cannot see it immediately. Your life can be like that. You may be studying today without seeing the result yet. You may be learning a skill without earning much money yet. You may be building a business without having many customers yet. You may be serving God without seeing the impact yet. You may be working on yourself without seeing the changes immediately. Keep going. However, refusing to give up does not mean refusing to change your approach. Sometimes the dream is good, but your method is wrong. If something is not working, learn, adjust, and try again. Ask questions. Improve your skills. Seek advice. Correct your mistakes. Persistence is not stubbornness. Persistence means continuing toward a worthwhile goal while being willing to learn and improve along the way. You also need to stop comparing your beginning with somebody else's middle. You may see someone who has already built a successful business, written several books, established a ministry, or achieved financial stability. Remember that you may not know how many years that person spent learning and struggling before the results became visible. Do not despise your small beginning. Your first business may be small. Your first sermon may be imperfect. Your first book may not sell many copies. Your first job may not be your dream job. Your first attempt at something may fail. That does not mean you should stop. Learn from it and continue. There will be days when you feel motivated and days when you do not. Discipline becomes important when motivation disappears. You cannot build your future based only on how you feel each morning. Some days, you will have to keep working because you have already decided that the goal is worth pursuing. At the same time, remember that not every dream must be pursued forever. If God redirects you, if you discover that your plans are wrong, or if wise counsel shows you that you need to take a different path, be willing to adjust. Giving up on one plan is not the same as giving up on your purpose. What matters is that you continue moving toward the life God wants you to build. Do not let one failure become the final chapter of your story. You may have failed an examination. You may have lost a job. Your business may have failed. Someone may have rejected you. A relationship may have ended. An opportunity may have passed you by. Learn from it. Get up. Pray again. Plan again. Try again. Your present difficulty does not have to determine your final outcome. What To Do Today 1. Write down one important goal you have almost given up on. 2. Identify the main reason you became discouraged and decide what you can do differently. 3. Take one practical step toward that goal today, even if the step is small. 4. Ask a mature and trustworthy person for advice on how you can improve. Prayer Lord, give me strength when I become tired and discouraged. Help me not to abandon the good things You have placed in my heart simply because they are taking time. Give me wisdom to learn from my mistakes, courage to try again, and discipline to keep working. If You need to redirect my plans, help me recognise Your direction. But where You have called me to continue, give me grace not to give up. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Challenge Return to one good goal you abandoned because of disappointment and take one practical step toward it today. You may not see the harvest yet, but keep planting, keep learning, keep working, and keep trusting God. ©️ Anthony Ijere Christian Author and Revivalist
0 Σχόλια 0 Μοιράστηκε 19 Views