I Want to Quit

I have heard that saying, "I want to quit" many times over the past week. People are so discouraged, they have little hope that God is concerned about them, or their plight in life. Discouragement is all around us, and even the saints of God are struggling with the issues of life.

2 Chronicles 20:17 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’  Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” Bringing God into the battle and into the valley is a critical step of faith. You can not hold back discouragement without Him being the middle of this fight. The battle for the soul of every man, woman, and child is underway today, and the stream of hatred has overflowed its banks into every walk of life, including the church. We have more back biting, and trash talking taking place in the church, you would think we were in an urban gang.  I have talked to several people who have ax's to grid with each other, but can't get it resolved.  The major issue today, is no one is listening to each other.  I have a relative who is quitting her job, and her boss was surprised at some of the reasons expressed as to why she was quitting. She said, "I told you repeatedly" and you ignored me, until I was feed up with being ignored."   By the way, the worst place to be a woman today is in the church or ministry setting,  especially if you have made Christian service your vocation. Women are ignored by men and taken less serious than other male counterparts. Women in the church, in most cases, are the necessary gifts we can't do without, but we don't have to listen to them. Listening to people shows respect and honors them as a person, and when you ignore their ideas, concerns you are ignoring them.  Quitting is a human condition when you are discouraged, defeated, or disappointed.  Quitting is often the case when you do no feel valued or listened to, either by fellow human beings or God. Human beings need to know they have value, and what they do in life must have some shed of importance to it, or they will lose heart.  Many believers today are struggling with why isn't God listening to me, and making changes in my circumstances?  Good question, and I am sure Jesus felt the same way in the garden of Gethsemane, but he subject himself  to, "not my will, but yours be done." This has to become our model in the moment of dispair of wanting to quit.  Jesus knew why He had come to earth, so be pressed on beyond this moment of temptation to quit. I have wanted to quit on many occasions, primarily because I had my feelings hurt, or I was ignored, or I was hurting from a great deal of disappointment. However, as I stopped myself from self pity, I discovered that God had a new purpose in my going through the circumstances. There are times nothing makes sense, and you have to give yourself over to God. Quitting was not in the mindset of godly men and women in the scriptures. The Apostle Paul had his moments I am sure, as he traveled and ministered the name of Jesus Christ. If he had quit because of the beatings or being thrown in jail, we wouldn't have much of the New Testament.  There may be a time to quit, but not until the release is given by God.  Every believer holds a majority with God, so circumstances  can not make us quit.  I find it valuable to discover more about God in a valley, than I do on the mountain.  In the valley He seems so much closer to me and if you're in the midst of the valley of wanting to quit my prayer for you is, let God have His moment with you in this valley.  This valley with God is better than the mountain top without Him. He has a purpose for this moment in time, allow Him the opportunity to use it for your good. Keeping it honest and truthful...K