Why You Can Never Quit
Let me say two things as we start this post. I don’t want to write it…and I can’t not write it. This post will be a bit different than usual.
What’s Different?
Every blog post up to now has answered a question. Not this time. I could have tweaked it to make it a question, but that would have defeated a main part of the purpose. No, this one is a statement, and I’m living it even as I type. Let me explain.
I just came out of an amazing weekend!
On Saturday, my lovely bride and I were up very early to serve as course marshals for a nearby triathlon. Then we had a late lunch at a famous tourist spot, and after that a visit to the largest used bookstore I’d ever seen. Sunday started with attending church and then serving at church. We did a bit more than that on Sunday, but frankly we were wiped out.
It’s Monday as I type this, and I just finished a full day training people online. That means talking all day and maintaining a high energy state to keep the students engaged.
I’m tired. I don’t want to write a blog post. And yet here I am.
I know some of you have had actual, painful challenges far beyond anything I’m trying to recover from. I know you’re dealing with physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion. I’ve been there too, although perhaps not in the same way or at the same level.
It’s not a contest. It’s just a fact. Sometimes we just want to lay down and let it go.
The Lord Provided
Do you recall these verses?
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “
-Exodus 20:8-11 ESV
The Lord provided a day for us to rest. This week I didn’t do well in making sure I had a proper Sabbath. Often the reason we are overly tired is self-inflicted. We schedule too many activities and take on too many responsibilities for the available time. I don’t regret a single thing I did this weekend. It was FANTASTIC! But I’m feeling the effects.
If I don’t take a Sabbath, I can’t blame God, I can only blame me. Now, you may be in different circumstances. You may be caring for young children (I’m ok with being past that stage 😊) or helping aging family members. Perhaps you don’t have as much control over your time. But even in those situations there are ways to catch the occasional break. It’s the responsibility of each of us to make time for rest…as the Lord intended.
Rest, But Don’t Quit
Sabbath is the time to rest, but it is a temporary time. We must keep our commitments. Jesus followers do exactly that, they follow Jesus and keep His commandments. But if we decide instead of keeping commitments, to make a habit of slothfulness, we will suffer more.
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”
-Proverbs 6:10-11 ESV
We will lose out on opportunities to improve our financial status in this world, but we lose out on something far greater.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
-Matthew 6:33 ESV
Jesus warns us not to worry about food, clothes, or shelter. He does not say to not expend effort to acquire them, but only not to worry about them. Because when it comes down to it, if we first seek God’s Kingdom then He will make sure our needs are met.
But here is the key, and it’s something easy to miss.
Seeking is active. Seeking takes work. Seeking is not done in slothfulness. Seeking is a commitment to be kept.
Seeking the Kingdom
Seeking the Kingdom means working to bring the Kingdom to fruition in our own lives. And seeking the Kingdom means working to bring the Kingdom to fruition in the lives of others.
We’re almost done here, but first let me tell you why I wrote this blog post, even though I didn’t really want to. I wrote it because I’m seeking the Kingdom of God.
I’m seeking the Kingdom of God for you. I’m seeking for ways to support you in growing closer to your Savior. I’m seeking to encourage you in your faith. I’m seeking for you to have an example of not quitting, of never quitting, of never giving up on seeking the Kingdom of God, not for yourself, and not for the people the Lord is bringing into your life.
So yes, take the Sabbath. Get the appropriate amount of rest. And then, even when it’s hard, seek first the Kingdom of God…and aid others in the seeking as well.
Know that if you are reading these words, I have prayed for you in the seeking.
If you have follow-up thoughts, feel free to reach out to me directly via our contact form.
Love you Jesus follower!
-Troy