It Would be Easy to Quit

He could have quit, and it might have made his life easier. He had been beaten, thrown in prison, shipwrecked, robbed, and persecuted. He had gone hungry, gone without sleep, and even been stoned to the point of being dead. Wouldn’t it have been easier if he would have done something else? Yet, he kept fighting, he kept running, and he finished the race. 

Paul knew before he started his ministry, that it wouldn’t always be easy. This ministry thing is not for people who want an easy stroll through life.

It might be easy to quit, when you are reprimanded by the elders, when you don’t get the promised raise, when they don’t seem to appreciate your preaching, when you receive another unkind letter, or when you lose your job.

It might be easy to quit when your child dies, when your wife isn’t as supportive as you would like, when you have struggles in your marriage, when you face emotional and physical problems, or when your personal sin stares you in your face.

It might be easy to quit when you can’t worship with all your church family, when some become convinced that it’s okay to just worship at home because of convenience, or when you can’t visit the people you love.

It might be easy to quit when one of your closest friends leave the congregation, when your child leaves the Lord, or when you lose your wife.

It might be easy to quit, but please don’t quit now. The Lord needs your heart, the church needs your voice, and the world needs your goodness.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying it’s sinful to step down, and some have or will, but I am saying that most of God’s men have been through similar circumstances. Hang in there a little longer. Finish the race and receive your crown of righteousness with joy.

If we can help you, please let us know. Don’t ever forget, God loves you. And by the way, so do we.