How Can I Keep Going When I Just Want to Quit?

When I run for exercise, quitting seems like a valid option about 90 percent of the time. Who in their right mind would want to put themselves through something like this? The sweating, the burning lungs, the sore legs—it is all awful.

We could say the same thing about being a disciple of Jesus. Who in their right mind would want to put themselves through something like this? Having to love your neighbors and pray for your enemies—has the Lord seen what they write on Facebook? I have to submit to my authorities and pray for them? Has God seen these guys who walk into the White House?

Loving God and others is hard when the easiest person to love is myself. The relationships closest to us can be the most draining, but those relationships can also be the most rewarding. To those people we can give the pure, unfiltered love of Jesus. We can love them simply because we know that Jesus loves them. They do not have to be perfect or act perfectly; I just cannot weary of displaying Jesus’s love to them.

Weariness of doing good is a real symptom of living in a world that tears one another apart. People can be hard, but so are our lives. It seems like every corner we turn or every milestone we hit, there is also evidence of the brokenness sin has left in its wake.

From the fall of man in Genesis 3, humanity has been set to deal with toil, frustration, hurt, strife, and ultimately death. The proclamation of hurt and death in Genesis 3 also came with a hopeful promise that One was coming to crush the head and deeds of the garden serpent. Even with that hope, we groan like Paul says in Romans 8:23: “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

Groaning has a cumulative effect in our minds and hearts. The inner turmoil of doubt, shame, fear, and discord closes off our hearts. We pull inward and away from the people we love the most. Our outer trials and hurt land like body blows on our already weary life. There are extended seasons of life where it seems like nothing can go right. We are enveloped in darkness and the only thing we want is to lie down and quit.

It is the same temptation to quit that Elijah came face to face with in 1 Kings 19. God had just defeated the prophets of Baal by raining down fire on Mount Carmel. Following their defeat, the false prophets were killed, which was not something Jezebel appreciated. She swore to have Elijah killed in the next 24 hours.

As soon as Elijah heard of the threat he went out into the desert, curled up under a tree, and asked to die. This was a quick drop to go from the most powerful prophet in Israel to being pushed to the absolute brink. Even a man who had seen God do unimaginably powerful acts found himself overwhelmed by his fear.

God did not scold or scoff at Elijah; rather, he sent an angel to attend to him. This angel gave Elijah food and water and then let Elijah go back to sleep. The angel returned a second time to give food and drink to Elijah so that he would have strength for his journey ahead. Then God sent him to a mountain where he showed Elijah both his power and his tenderness.

God never scolded Elijah for succumbing to his hurt and fear. His response to Elijah was one of tender provision. God provided the rest and the strength that Elijah needed. God reminded the prophet that the presence of the Father was never far from him. He was with him, for him, and still had plans for him.

God is not done with you. Until faith becomes sight, God desires to uphold you, love you, and use you as an instrument of his glory. The ultimate antidote to our fears and failures is that God’s presence in our lives is not dependent on present success; it is an established promise to His children. As the prophet Isaiah reminds vulnerable Israel:

You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off;
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9–10)

A sovereign and powerful God is not dismayed by your darkness, struggles, and failures. He knows about all of it, and he still loves you. He is still beside you and sustaining you. Take time to recover from your wounds. Take time to rest in his arms of grace. Build your strength as you trust in him.

But eventually, get back up. Do not stop running the race, even if that means going one small step at a time. It might be hard, but God has you in his hand. Do not quit. God has made you for more than fear and failure.

We know it is a hard and long journey, but with God at our side, we can run the race one step at a time until we reach the finish line of faith.

***This is an excerpt from my latest book, Endure***