Why I’m Quitting
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:8-10
I had a split-second thought “Sometimes I wonder if I should quit while I’m ahead.” I was pretty low in the dirt in that moment. I texted my thought to the woman who knows me better than anyone, she replied “Glad Jesus didn’t!” While I laughed out loud, I felt the kick in my gut. Ouch! I replied back with “What a profound suck it up and get over it statement! I needed that knockin’ sense into me kick in the gut” Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t quit while He was ahead? Before this kick in the gut, like I said, I was feeling pretty low. Satan had taken me to places I didn’t want to be! After this text “I Need Thee Every Hour” came on, that’s when I realized I do quit. I am quitting life without Christ. I am quitting an hour without Christ. I am quitting a second without Christ. I am no longer going a millisecond without Christ. I constantly hear my friends (wise mentors) telling me that I am too busy, I do too much for others and not enough for me, I need time for myself, I need to do this or that and not to do that or this. I like to roll my eyes at those thoughts and laugh! “Thanks but I’m fine”. But news is I am not. So I quit. I quit trying to do everything on my own. I quit trying to be everywhere and in everything. I quit trying to be everything to everyone.
Why do I say this? Because I don’t care anymore? Because I don’t care what people think? No not at all. I care more about my girls, every single one of them, MORE than I ever have and more than I ever thought I would. I care more about what people think than I ever have and more than I ever wanted to. But I cannot be everything to everyone. I want the people that know me to want to want Christ more, not me. And when I die, I will not stand in front of God and be told “You pleased everyone, well done my good and faithful servant.” I want God to tell me that I pleased Him! If you love the world, the love of God is not in you! “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” Colossians 3:23
The most important thing, I quit doing this on my own. I’m the kind of person who more times than not thinks I can do it on my own. I prefer not to ask for help because most of my life is made up of things I do better myself. But I quit life without Christ. There is NOTHING that I can do without Him and I refuse to do anything without Him. I work for my Lord. And without Him, I can do nothing. I quit trying to do it on my own. If you try to do your life without Christ, you will burn out. You will want to give up. You will get tired, you will get worn out and worn down. People will make you crazy, satan will destroy your mind. You’ll think you’re going crazy and some of your best cheerleaders will become your biggest enemies. We cannot do anything without Christ. Stop trying to do it on your own! I am admitting that I have tried one too many times to do this thing called life on my own. And I cannot. STOP. SLOW DOWN. REST IN CHRIST. AND QUIT doing it on your own. And realize that God sends you people to speak through to tell you things you’re too stubborn to hear from Him. They might tell you something a million times. Something you don’t think you need to hear. Something you think you have handled and you’re a professional at. You’re not. Listen to them. Listen to God first and foremost and stop thinking that you can do it on your own. Because you cannot. Slow down and realize that you can do nothing without Christ.
(Don’t feel bad if you’ve been here. If you know what I mean when I say “should I quit while I’m ahead.” Remember Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion? “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” When you are really having an impact satan will be trying his hardest to discourage you!)
“Though you don’t know what lies ahead, I know; and that is enough! Some of My richest blessings are just around the bend: out of sight but nonetheless very real. To receive these gifts, you must walk by faith– not by sight.” -God, Jesus Calling (2 Corinthians 5:7)
So I quit. I am no longer doing life on my own. Signed, sealed, delivered, Jesus I am Yours!
