In my notes for last Sunday’s sermon, I simply had this phrase written for my intro: “We all feel like quitting every now and again…” No further explanation was provided in my notes, in large part because I didn’t need much elaboration to provide my explanation. While each of us may have experienced this feeling in different ways, we’ve all been there in one way or another. The old saying tells us, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I submit that when the going gets tough, we all want to get going… usually somewhere, anywhere the going is less tough.
I submit that when the going gets tough, we all want to get going… usually somewhere, anywhere the going is less tough.
As I read the introductory phrase on Sunday morning, several biblical examples suddenly popped into my head. I was reminded of numerous people we consider heroes of the faith who experienced moments when they were “over it,” as we might say, and contemplating giving up. Their current season of life, continued struggles, or a pending situation was bending them to or beyond their breaking point causing them to consider quitting or, at a minimum, to explore alternative options.
Elijah was the first example that came to mind. In 1 Kings 18:16-40, we read about Elijah’s epic face off against the wicked King Ahab and the prophets of the false god Baal. God does some amazing things through Elijah and provides a massive victory involving fire falling from heaven to validate God’s power and Elijah’s role as His prophet and ultimately resulting in the elimination of the prophets of Baal. In the very next chapter, Elijah receives a death threat and runs for his life. Elijah clearly felt like quitting. In 1 Kings 19:3, he tells the Lord, “I have had enough…” That’s a really close analogue to “I am over it!” or “I am done!”
The second example that came to mind was Moses. Moses actually tried to quit before he began. In Exodus 3-4, God famously speaks to Moses through a burning bush. God tells Moses what He is planning to do through Moses’s efforts. If I might paraphrase the words of Moses, he says, “You’ve got the wrong guy for this.” Moses provides all sorts of reasons why God needs to find someone else for the job. I have to believe that, given his past experience, Moses knew how tough the going was going to get, and would have rather NOT gone at all.
The final example that came to mind was that of Jesus Himself. Just before He was arrested and marched off to corrupt courts and crucifixion, Jesus took a few of His closest followers and friends and went off to pray and prepare for what was to come. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus prays, “My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.” That’s not too far from, “I’d really rather not do this.”
All three of these biblical examples faced situations or even seasons of struggle where they didn’t want to keep going. Maybe it is too far to say that Jesus wanted to quit, but it is clear that He would have preferred other, easier alternatives for continuing on. Moses didn’t want to quit so much as he didn’t even want to start in the first place. Elijah unambiguously stated that he wanted to quit. What’s inspiring about each of these three examples, however, is that they didn’t quit. Through the stress, the strain, and the pain, they persevered and served the Lord’s purposes. As much as they may not have wanted to, when the going got tough, they didn’t quit; they kept going.
We all feel like quitting every now and again. But, what we has less impact than what we do.
I believe my introductory statement is true: We all feel like quitting every now and again. But, what we feel has less impact than what we do. Whatever difficulties come our way, we need to keep doing what is right as we seek to serve God’s purposes in the world. We need to keep speaking truth in love. We need to keep loving neighbor as self. We need to keep loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. We need to keep looking out not only for our needs, but for the needs of others. We need to keep being the hands and feet of Jesus. As difficult and dark as these days may feel, don’t quit. I won’t either.
