So you feel like giving up? Have you ever questioned whether or not it’s all worth it? Are you mentally, physically or spiritually exhausted? Does it all just seem too hard?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then take heart. Chances are, you are in the right place doing the right thing. So how do you know when to stick it out and when to move on? I have found that changing my questions often helps me get clarity.
What is my level of exhaustion? Do I need to take a break or a vacation? I find myself going Mach 2 with my hair on fire and before I know what hit me, burn out sets in. Maybe I need to take that command to Sabbath seriously and do a little self-care.
Is what I am doing still in line with my passion and gifts? Are there aspects of what I am doing where I still feel joy and I see God at work? This is usually a pretty clear indicator that I am still in the right place at the right time.
Am I listening for the direction of the Holy Spirit? I’ll be honest; this one is the hardest for me. When life gets chaotic or noisy, it’s often hard to slow my mind down enough to listen. That’s why self-care is so critical. Moments when we are alert and quiet are when we most clearly hear from The Lord.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10: 35-36 (NIV)
I love this verse because it tells me without doubt that there will be a need to persevere. There will be times when we will be tempted to give up. It’s an absolute certainty. This is our call to stay confident in the one who call us because he assures us that it IS worth it.
One of my favorite movie quotes of all time comes from the film “A League of Their Own.” In it, Geena Davis’ character is telling her coach, Tom Hanks that she is quitting because baseball just got too hard. I love his response.
“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it great.”
Ministry is hard. Ministry is also great. I encourage you to stick with it. You can do this! I’ll be here to cheer you on.
Question: What other tips would you offer to encourage someone who may feel like giving up?
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