I was reading an article in which Tommy Barnett was cataloging people who wanted to quit. Jeremiah, Abraham, Peter after Jesus was crucified, all of these wanted to quit. Then there was Thomas, Noah, Moses, John the Baptist, these guys all wanted to quit. The great Winston Churchill whose famous quote is "never, never, never quit" wanted to quit.
I know another guy who has wanted to quit, me. However, after reading this list of famous "I wanted to" quittters, I don't feel so bad. In fact, I am encouraged. It looks like to me, that people who wanted to quit were people who were doing something. In many cases, they were in the process of the "signature" accomplishment of their lives. Noah was building the ark, Winston was defeating the Germans. Peter was on the verge of becoming the emotional leader of the New Testament church.
When I was in my youth program (right after the war for southern independence) we had a "thing" we sometimes did. It was called popcorn testimonies. One person would stand up and say " I thank the Lord for___________" and as they sat down they would point to another person and say your turn, etc. etc. etc. Let me say this morning, I thank the Lord that, by His grace, through his keeping power, because of his abundant love for me, and through the disciplines of the mentors He has brought into my life, I DIDN'T QUIT, I WILL NOT QUIT, I CANNOT QUIT!
I am pointing to you. It's your turn.
Thank you, thank you very much.
Steve
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In many cases, they were in the process of the "signature" accomplishment of their lives. Noah was building the ark, Winston was defeating the Germans. Peter was on the verge of becoming the emotional leader of the New Testament church.
I love the first line there but I also have some issues inside with it all. It's easy for us to look back and see that what those men were doing at the time turned out the way it did. But, if I put myself in their shoes... I'm not so sure. I mean, it's easy for us to see these guys hung in there and didn't quit when we know the outcome.
But, Churchill didn't "know" how things would turn out. Even through eyes of faith (in my life there's usually a dose of doubt thrown in) Noah and Peter didn't "know" how things would turn out.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's no way for us to know for certain how things will turn out and yet it's still so important for us to not give up. I know in my own life, there was no certainty that we'd still have our son with us and yet we didn't give up and it didn't turn out the way we hoped. We lost him (he's just fine BTW.) Still... we have no regrets in never giving up faith and hope that he'd be healed. (And, God has helped us and we're doing just fine as well).
I'm rambling at this point and it's not even my blog, but I can say... even though we don't know how things will turn out... I can guarantee that if you do quit, you'll never know what could become of your life and the impact that it can make on those around you.
Good Morning Pastor!
Thank you for reminding me that doing something is a form of momentum...
Loving that your blogging!
I believe to say, "I quit" is a statement of absolute frustration where in our humanness we see no other alternatives except to quit. We are in a state of powerlessness. However, it is in those moments, those valleys, when the Lord God brings us to Him and says remember why you are here. Recalling what your assignment is, what your God-given vision is, brings you to that place of reconciliation with the frustrations you are juggling to reach the goal. It's kind of like giving birth. Once in the process, a woman can't stop, she can't quit. How powerful is that!! I thank God for all the moments I wanted to quit, because they have made me stronger with a clear vision drawing me ever so close to Him.
When Tommy Barnett spoke at the SEU forum he spoke about quiting. Wanting to quit is not all bad as if you want to quit if shows you have something to quit from and have had some sucess. Looking at that we have had some sucess it works to motivate us to keep going
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