“So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”Galatians 6:9 HCSB
The other day, I quit. I was trying to fix a problem with my website, and instead of solving it, I made a muddled mess of the whole thing. Frustration washed over me, and soon I was sobbing. Angry tears blurred my vision as I pushed my rolling chair away from my desk and marched into the den where my husband was sitting. “I quit!” I stormed. He waited quietly.
“No, really,” I insisted. “I’m done. Done with writing. I’m just done!”
Why Not Just Quit?
Have you ever reached that level of frustration where quitting felt like the only option? If so, that doesn’t make you a failure, it makes you human! Clearly, since you are reading this, you know my quitting wasn’t permanent. Eventually, I accepted help and worked through the issue. But it made me wonder: why do some challenges push us to our breaking point? And why did this website glitch become the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back of my calling?
The answer, for me, was that I felt overwhelmed. Even today, as I write this, I’m in a season of life where I feel pulled in a thousand different directions. There are things I want to do, things I have to do, and things I’m asked to do. But no matter how many things compete for my attention, one truth remains: I am limited. Like you, I have 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and there is only one of me.
Recently, I heard author Jordan Lee Dooley share that the word “priority” is not plural. By definition, a priority is “something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives.” [1] God doesn’t want us overwhelmed because we put too many things in first place. He intends us to have one priority—the thing that matters most. Everything else has to fall into place behind it.
How many times have we said we need to “get our priorities straight?” What we really meant was we needed to organize our responsibilities—tasks that need to be done but don’t all deserve top billing. The key is choosing the right priority, making decisions that align with God’s unique calling for our life, and letting go of the things that don’t belong on today’s to-do list.
Make decisions that align with the unique calling God has for you.
It’s Okay to Say No
Today, that looked like going home to write instead of visiting with a friend who just had surgery. It hurt to say no, but it meant trusting that God was sending the right people at the right time to be a blessing to her. Sometimes, saying yes to our calling means saying no to other good things.
Denise J. Hughes wrote, “I’m not looking to be busy. I spent too many years just being busy. Instead, I want to be purposeful in the things I say yes to, so I’m lingering on the choices.” [2] That resonates deeply with me. In a world that demands instant responses, it’s okay to take time and ponder our decisions. Some answers need to be ready on our lips (1 Peter 3:15), but others will require us to linger in prayer and seek God’s wisdom. And that’s okay.
James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for the wisdom we need. When we pause and bring our decisions to Him, we avoid many unnecessary mistakes. By focusing on purpose rather than busyness, we can stay on track with what matters most without getting distracted by all the events vying for our attention.
Your Calling is Unique
The call of God on your life is as unique as your fingerprint, and the challenges you will face are just as personal. Seasons and responsibilities may change, but God’s call for your life remains steady, even when everything else feels uncertain.
Matthew 24:13 says, “But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved” (AMP). The word endure in the Greek means “to remain in a place instead of leaving it.” [3] I know staying in your place of calling—holding on when it would be easier to quit and let go—may take everything you have some days. But don’t forget, God wouldn’t call you to endure if He didn’t also promise to hold you up.
Just Don’t Quit
There are countless reminders in Scripture not to quit. They are His gentle whispers of encouragement to your weary heart, reminding you that you can do this. Not because of your own strength or abilities, but because He’s with you. And He knows the victory that awaits on the other side of your endurance.
So, take heart, friend. Be strong and don’t let discouragement take root within you. God sees you, and your work—no matter how small it feels some days—has value and purpose. Keep showing up, even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, even when it seems nothing is working the way you intended. You’re not pushing through just for the sake of finishing—you’re planting seeds that will one day blossom into a beautiful harvest.
Galatians 6:9 says, “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up” (HCSB). God hasn’t called you to quit, and He hasn’t forgotten about you. He’s right there with you, equipping you for the journey. He’s called you to endure, and He will see you through to the end—where your faithfulness will bear fruit for His Kingdom. Stay focused on the main thing, find strength in God, and trust that He is weaving all the threads of your life into something beautiful.
[1]Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “priority,” accessed September 6, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priority.
[2] Huges, Denise J., Making Room for What Matters Most, A Sacred Yes, accessed September 6, 2024, https://denisejhughes.substack.com/p/a-sacred-yes?utm_source=post-emailtitle&publication_id=1660296&post_id=148555801&utm_campaign=email-posttitle&isFreemail=true&r=2fm7pd&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
[3] “G5278 – hypomenō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 6 Sep, 2024. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5278/kjv/tr/0-1/