How To Quit [Part 1] with Jennifer Greene

Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to give up?

If your life circumstances were a job, you would not even bother with a 2-week notice. You’d say, “I quit!” and high tail it out of there, running away with the determination of Forrest Gump. I’m with you on this. For many of us, this feeling can last not only days, but for weeks, months, or even years.

Maybe you don’t want to quit your entire life...instead there’s just a part of it you’d like to get rid of. There’s this certain area where you are just done with trying. Perhaps you’ve already given up. As parents it is super easy to feel a ton of guilt about even having this feeling, but the truckload of shame and guilt we dump on ourselves doesn’t help it to go away.

Can I say something astonishing here? Not only is it perfectly normal to experience these moments, but I think these thoughts of wanting to give up can be extremely beneficial. What?! I know, I know, you probably think I’m crazy. But I’m NOT going to talk you out of wanting to quit. 

Instead, I think you should embrace it.

This desire to give up, to throw in the towel, and to admit defeat is an opportunity for something really positive to happen. Yes, it is in these very moments when we throw our hands up in defeat when God can begin to work. We’ve reached the end of our own abilities, the end of our own resources, and the end of ourselves. But here’s the thing: When we are finished, God can begin to work.

It is in this place of complete surrender where something amazing can begin to happen. You see, when we are weak he is strong.

When we yield, the Holy Spirit is empowered.

Stay tuned for the next installment of this series, and I’ll give you some real tools for addressing these feelings. In the meantime, I’ve included a sample prayer with one of my favorite “rescue”-themed verses.

Pray: Father God, I want to throw up my hands in defeat. I’ve reached the end of myself and the end of my resources. Lord, I invite you into my messy situation. Rescue me. I know you can and will do amazing things – more than I can even think or imagine. Open my eyes to see them. I thank you in advance for how you will reveal yourself to me. I choose to believe what you tell us in your word:

Then call on me when you are in trouble,

and I will rescue you,

and you will give me glory.

Psalm 50:15

(c) 2018 by Jennifer Greene