Before you quit

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18

Do you ever feel like just quitting – tell your boss what you think of him and walk off your job, walk out of a marriage or, yes, even stop going to church? What do you do when you feel like quitting? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I the only one who ever feels like giving up? Remind yourself that even Elijah felt like resigning after he battled the pagan prophets. Emotionally and physically drained, he crawled under a bush and told God to just let him die right there.

2. What has God done for me in the past? Focus on the difficult times, those times when you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from or the rent that was due on the first of the month and you were broke, and God provided for you, once again proving that God is seldom early but never late.

3. Do I really believe God is a good God and that He loves me – just as I am? I suspect that when you are honest with yourself, you have to admit that deep down in your heart you know He does love you.

4. Am I willing to trust Him, awaiting His direction patiently? When you say, “Yes, I will trust Him,” you cross the continental divide of discouragement and begin step by step to walk towards the valley of peace.

It’s never a sin to get discouraged and feel like quitting. The sin comes when you yield to feelings and take the path of the quitter. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote, “Elijah was a man just like us.” Think about that! Fully human, fully subject to his emotions, but he didn’t quit. Neither should you. Tell your emotions where to get off and do the right thing.