if you feel like quitting…
Hey sweet friend. Can I ask you a question?
Have you ever felt like quitting? Have you ever felt like giving up on something just because things got a little hard? Have you ever felt like giving up on your job, schooling, relationship or ministry because you hit a dead end? Have you ever felt like giving up because things weren’t as easy as they used to be?
Let the words of Matthew 7:14 wash over you…
“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.”
Dear one, Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be easy. He never promised that it would all be sunshine and rainbows. There will always be tough things — there will always be things that make us want to quit. But what Jesus did promise is that life would be full, purposeful, full of joy and full of hope if we put our trust in Him. Life will be hard. We are going to want to quit a time or two. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
So why should we keep going?
Why shouldn’t we just quit?
Isn’t quitting easier? Yes, oftentimes. When something bad or uncomfortable happens, quitting seems like an easy way to cope and in a weird way, relax. However, life with Christ isn’t about taking the easy way out. It’s about persevering through the hard times so that the world can see Him. Colossians 3:17 encourages us to do everything for God’s glory — for God’s name to be spread even further across the world.
And you know what the coolest thing is? We don’t have to keep fighting empty-handed. Deciding to push on instead of quitting requires so much strength. Paul says in Philippians 4:13 that he can do “all things through Christ who strengthens him.” The apostle Paul realizes where his strength to push on comes from.
It doesn’t come from his biceps or his willpower. It comes from Christ Jesus who defeated sin and death on a cross and rose again to win our hearts. And if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. And He empowers you to persevere. All we have to do is ask for Him to infuse us with it and be willing to follow Him into the unknown.
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
Friend, I’m with you. I know how it feels to be utterly hopeless and feel like just throwing in the towel. I know what it feels like to come up against opposition — nasty people and nasty circumstances. I know what it feels like to want to quit. I know what it feels like to want to up on something that God has specifically called you to — just because it’s hard.
But I hope you know that quitting isn’t the only option. I hope you know that you have a Heavenly Father who has supernatural strength and wants you to show the world that you’re His — and you’re willing to fight for His kingdom, even when the going gets tough.
I that that if you’re faced with two options — quitting, or following God in obedience — you always choose the latter. I pray that when you feel the urge to quit, you seek Him first and follow His lead before your own, knowing that He holds you every step of the way. He knows exactly what you need.
When God has surely, without a doubt, called you to something, no matter if it’s a job, a relationship, a ministry or a city, He will always give you the strength to face it. Don’t let Satan win and say, “Ha. I made them break under pressure.” Put on your armor and get ready to keep going because there is so much hope and joy ahead.
