How Do You Know When To Quit?

I was teaching the preteen Sunday school class and the lesson was about not giving up. So, I asked the kids how they would know when it was time to throw in the towel on an endeavor. I got answers like, “when nobody else thinks you should be doing it,” and “if it doesn’t bring you joy anymore,” or, “you realize it was a mistake.”

I wanted to roll my eyes back into my head until I could see my brain and begin a lecture about steadfastness and faith and making Jesus proud with our All-American can-do-it-ness, and toughen up these softies for the army of the Lord.

Fortunately, the Holy Spirit gut-checked me with a reminder of how graceful God was towards me when I was blubbering about how long unfulfilled and lofty my dreams were, while trying to find the bottom of a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and reminding God I wasn’t getting any younger.

It was a momentary lapse because God’s grace is sufficient… and comforting, inspiring, and encouraging. I felt a little sting thinking about the attitude towards success that I had adopted, based on years of stringent teaching and admonishment from the pulpit that you could literally measure God’s opinion of you by the amount of blessing on your business or ministry. Tough times were a sign you were somehow out of line, and if you could figure out your specific sin and stop it, you would be rewarded with renewed favor.

The truth is, hard times are promised to us if we seek to follow God. Joseph, David, Elijah, Noah, Job, John the Baptist, Paul… lots of hard times! Yet all of them counted faithful and favored. None of them threw in the towel.

If I had a picture in my mind of myself following my dream, it would be that wide-eyed kitten dangling from a tree with the caption, “Hang in there!” Yet in all fairness, this wild ride has been an invigorating adventure. Filled with love, friendship, joy, and hope, I have been to places I never thought I’d go, doing things I never could have imagined, bolstered in the dark by faithful saints and ministers, pulled through agony by the goodness and mercy of the Holy Spirit, and all of it despite careful planning and cautious avoidance of risk.

Depending on the Holy Spirit for leading and falling on the safety net of scripture when I lacked wisdom, I have forged a life filled with equal parts pain and glory, and none of it a surprise to God, who promises His words over me will not return void. My dreams are constantly unfolding and moving forward as I rely on Him, no matter what it looks like in the moment.

When I cannot see straight, I remember this verse: “Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope (Romans 15:13 TPT)!”

The times of trials and confusion can be converted to fountains of hope and uncontainable joy, when you recognize God’s sovereignty and rest in the knowledge of His goodness.

Reflection

What challenges to your dreams have been hardest to overcome?
What question would you ask God about your dreams if you were sure He’d answer?
What is the scariest thought you have about following your dreams?

Goals

Find a scripture that speaks to your fear or frustration and write it here:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for you, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and the perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right and of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

(Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)