Someone reading this has been thinking about quitting. Quitting your ministry role, walking away, and never looking back.
You feel like you've had enough. You've given it your all and yet it never seems to be enough.
You've experienced doubt, heartache, betrayal, mistrust, and devalue.
You are so discouraged that you can't see a way back to the joy and passion that once fueled you in your ministry.
You have done your best to keep this hidden. Fake smiles. Saying the right things to those who ask how you are doing. But knowing inside things are not okay.
You are on the verge of quitting. Before you quit, would you consider these 10 things.
You're not the only one that has experienced this.
We've all been discouraged at times. It's part of the journey. The most popular, polished pastors you see have been discouraged at times. The pastors that lead megachurches have been discouraged and have wanted to quit before.
I know...Monday morning never seems to be your friend. You look back at the weekend and you are encouraged by some things and discouraged by other things. Sometimes the discouraging things cover up the blessings.
Remember what God told Elijah when he was discouraged and ready to quit. He told him there were thousands of other people that had not bent their knee to the dire circumstances they found themselves in.
So...consider this before you quit. Many others have faced what you are facing.
God called you and His call is still on your life.
When you are discouraged it can cause you to doubt your calling. Go back and visit your calling. Remember when and how God called you into ministry. His calling is without repentance.
This too shall pass.
You may not be able to see it now, but your discouragement will pass if you remain diligent. We all go through seasons and periods of ups and downs. Don't make any rash decisions while you are in a valley. You may be walking in the valley right now, but the mountaintop will be yours again.
God hasn't called you to be successful. He has called you to be faithful.
The Bible doesn't say we will hear "well done good and faithful leader." Rather we will hear "well done good and faithful servant."
Stay faithful. Don't give up! Don't quit!
God is with you...even when you don't feel like it.
You may feel like God has removed His hand and blessings from your ministry. You may feel like your prayers aren't going any higher than the ceiling. You may feel like God has put you on the shelf and is done with you.
But that is not the case. He is with you in the valleys and the mountaintops. When you feel like He has forgotten you, be reminded that "He will never leave your or forsake you."
Failure isn't the end.
Maybe your discouragement and reason you want to quit is due to a failure. You tried to start a new ministry initiative and it failed. The ministry you are leading is not growing...it is actually shrinking.
We all fail at times. The important thing is to get back up. You may have been knocked down numerous times and it has stolen your confidence. Ask God to renew your spirit. Ask God to empower you to move forward.
You may have failed...but He is not done with you.
Get with Jesus.
Remember when David was in danger of being stoned to death as a leader? Talk about a bad day. Talk about a discouraging day. But it goes on to say that "David encouraged himself in the Lord."
The person who can breathe encouragement into your life is Jesus. Run to Him. Get with Him. Spend time with Him. Talk to Him.
To get back to a good place, you are going to have to spend time with Jesus. In His presence is fullness of joy. In His presence is divine encouragement. In His presence you will regain your passion for ministry.
Guard your heart.
Proverbs 4:23 reminds that our number one job is to guard our hearts.
Guard against bitterness. Guard against anger. Guard against jealousy. Guard against vengance.
The enemy will try to destroy your heart for ministry. The enemy will try to steal away the joy in your heart. The enemy will try to diminish your passion for serving Jesus. The enemy will try to whisper your failures to you.
People will hurt you. Don't let it make you bitter. People that you have invested in will walk away from you. Don't let it make you discouraged. People will lie about you. Don't let it make you angry. Guard your heart and walk humbly with Jesus.
Getting rest will help you push reset.
Often when I get discouraged it is because I am tired. It is when I have worked way to many hours. It is when I have not used my vacation days. It is when I have not taken my day off.
Taking care of yourself physically can help you push reset. Talking care of yourself mentally can help you push reset. Having hobbies or fun things you do can help relieve stress. Many years ago I went through a rough time in ministry. I almost had to stop doing ministry A big part of that was because I wasn't pushing the reset button by getting rest. You can read more of my journey at this link.
Take some time off. Even God took a day off after He created everything.
Talk to someone.
You weren't meant to do ministry alone. Have trusted friends you can talk with when you feel like quitting.
If you are considering leaving ministry or if you are discouraged, I pray this post has been helpful. If you'd like to connect and talk more about this, feel free to contact me at dale@buildingchildrensministry.com.
I want you and I to be able to say what Paul said in 2 Timothy.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Consider this...before you quit.
