That’s It. I Quit. I’m Out. That’s All She Wrote.

I’m a quitter.

Most people don’t know that about me because I’m also a procrastinator

 so I don’t get around to following through on quitting

but I quit on things all the time.

I’ve quit on my marriage. My husband of twenty-three years knows how many times I’ve given up.

I frequently quit on homeschooling. Over the twenty-some years that I educated my two children at home from pre-K through high school, there were many days I warned them that the following week they would be registered for public school.

I quit on karate about twelve times a week before I earned my black belt. Most people don’t know about that because I was usually mumbling about giving up as I was face down on a mat.

I quit writing at least twice a week

but no one notices.

That’s why I find the Bible verses about perseverance to be most annoying.

 Perseverance, what a boring virtue!

A clue to the irritating nature of perseverance is that it’s generally mentioned in tandem with its twin sister – patience and it’s developed by enduring suffering. Really. Need I say more?

James writes about perseverance in chapter 5: 7-11: “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

OK, how irritating is that? Farmers, Job, prophets, suffering, waiting – all boring, all hard to do. Where’s the gratification? Where’s the glory? Where’s my best life now?

Galatians 6:9 is another annoying passage: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Again, with the farming, the waiting, the not giving up.

There’s nothing exciting about watching things grow. Try it some time. Planting is fun, harvest is a Mardi Gras but the actual growing – this is not the gripping stuff of bestselling novels or summer blockbusters!

Knights of the Round Table were often known for their virtues. Sir Lancelot, the brave. Sir Dinadan, the bold. Sir Bedivere, the True. That’s cool!

But no one is lining up to be known as Sir George, the Perseverant or Sir Stephen, the Long-Suffering. Seriously, send me a decent dragon to fight not an acre of land to plow, sow, tend, and wait!

So, how does a quitter with an aversion to long-suffering stay married twenty-three years, homeschool for the long run, earn a black belt, or continue to show up at the keyboard every day?

Daily meetings with God at the well that never runs dry.

He listens to my complaints. He endures my irritation and my impatience. He nods when I offer my resignation. Then, He speaks. I listen. He pours Himself into my empty cup – Living Water for my thirsty soul.

Okay, I decide. I’ll give it one more day – but I’ll probably quit tomorrow.

God smiles. He knows all about perseverance. Believe me, He’s the Master.
 
What are you ready to quit?
 
“Never, never, never give up!” ~ Winston Churchill