Ever had a day you felt like quitting? Maybe you wanted to wave a white flag of surrender?
Living real can be hard stuff.
I would assume many of us have felt, are feeling, or are going to feel this way. Especially in a world that contradicts this type of living. Some days it feels like we’re swimming upstream, or going against the grain, or driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
Today was one of those days for me.
It’s easy to get discouraged when all you see are obstacles ahead of you. Or, when you feel like what you’re doing makes no difference at all to anyone. Or, when another’s actions cause heartache or pain.
These kinds of experiences make me want to quit.
They make me want to give up living a real and authentic life. They almost draw me back to the me I used to be.
The thing is though, I’ve come too far. God has taken my old life and nailed it to the cross. He’s made me a new creation. My old life is gone.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
So, no matter how the thoughts of quitting tempt me, the above truth reminds me I can’t. It beckons me to keep moving forward in this new life, no matter how hard it may seem or how uncomfortable it may get.
There’s no going back to the old me I used to be.
And, I really have no desire to retreat. There’s nothing back there for me. Living real is more freeing and a whole lot less complicated than my old life. Thanks be to God!
Friend, how about you? What tempts you to quit pressing on in this real life with Christ? What the thing that stops you, or frustrates you? Or makes you want to retreat to your old ways?
What encourages me is how God knows what gets us. He knows what we struggle with. And, He knows what’s ahead for us in this new life with Him. He’s got us, and He’s got it all under control.
When we feel like quitting, let’s give Him our intentions and frustrations. Let’s lean forward into Him instead of leaning backwards. He’ll give us what we need, right when we need it. He will strengthen and encourage us to continue on in living a real and authentic life with Him.
Together.
Quitting is not an option.
We can praise God for that! Keep going, my friend. I’m over here believing in you and thanking God for you.
Much love,
Julie
It’s Day 23 of 31 Days of Living a Real Life. Thanks for stopping in! If you’d like to catch up on previous posts, click here.
I’ve been struggling with my prayer attitude. We recently lost my 57 year old brother-in-law to cancer that came out of nowhere! I prayed, oh I prayed and he still passed. Now I know that God doesn’t make mistakes, but my reaction has been to be hesitant in prayer almost expecting them not to be answered. I am disappointed in myself. I am in true need of God’s strength and encouragement! Thank you for another great post!
Oh, Cindy. I’m so sorry to read of your brother-in-law’s passing. You’re not alone in how you are feeling, believe me. I felt the same way and paused to pray, thinking they wouldn’t be answered after my father died. It took some time, but God led me gently. He’ll do the same for you. I’m praying He strengthens you and helps you to pray in His power again. Much love, friend!