Fr. Mike Schmitz: How to Handle Spiritual Setbacks

Australian Justice in the Dock, by George Weigel
September 13, 2019
Francis Packs the Court, by Stephen Wynne  
September 13, 2019

By Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Press, Sept. 11, 2019

After reading a book on will power, Fr. Mike discovered an important lesson when it comes to how we handle spiritual setbacks. He noticed how resisting sin is a lot like resisting a donut when on a diet. If we resist for some time but then end up giving in and eating the donut, that doesn’t mean all of our progress in the diet is lost.

In the same way, if we resist sin for some time but then give in, the grace God offers us through confession can restore us. In fact, it can restore to even higher than we were before.

“Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”

Romans 5:20

So let’s not give up when experience spiritual setbacks, but keep our eyes on heaven and God’s grace and live accordingly.


Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz

Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

He is a presenter in Ascension’s ChosenAltaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents.

https://media.ascensionpress.com/video/how-to-handle-spiritual-setbacks/