Strong spirits: feel like quitting?

Have you ever felt like quitting?  Have you felt like it lately?

Wanting to throw in the towel is not an uncommon experience.  In the Bible you join the likes of Moses, Jonah, Elijah, David, Peter, and probably even Jesus as he struggled in the garden.

And please know that there are times when letting go of a burden or an assignment is exactly the right thing to do.  There is a place for quitting.  But here I am talking about when we know we are on the right path, doing what we are called to do, but it is so hard, it has been so long, that we are tempted to quit.

When we get to that point, and we all will, we need to remember something:  "Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail." (1 Corinthians 13:7)  God is love, and he will never give up on you.  Cry out to God.  Put the matter fully in his capable hands.  Step away for a while, if you need to.  Stop striving, and rest in his mercy and grace.

Your marriage, your job, a friendship, a task -  unless God says so, don't quit.  Give it to God. Trust him with it.  And let him renew and restore you to carry on.

Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.