Jeremiah 20:9
“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any
more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut
up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”
Anybody who has ever done anything for the LORD has gone through a
season like Jeremiah when they entertained the thought of quitting. When
you look throughout the Scriptures, some of the greatest Christians
thought about quitting or even quit for a short season. Elijah quit
after the great victory of praying fire down from Heaven. Peter quit at
Jesus’ trial. John Mark quit and went back home for a season. Jeremiah,
in the verse above, quit on the LORD, but it was only for a short time.
Serving the LORD is a battle with the flesh and Satan. At times it
can become wearisome, especially when your flesh is tired or weak. It is
during these times when you must have something that keeps you going.
When you study Jeremiah during his time of retreat, five things helped
him work through the desire to quit. Let me show you what you must do if
you want to keep from quitting.
First, you must study the Scriptures regularly. The verse above says, “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones…”
Jeremiah would have quit had he not spent time in the Scriptures.
Reading the Scriptures daily pays off in those times when you want to
quit. The Scriptures have a way of lighting a fire in your heart to keep
you going when you want to quit. You will surely quit if you don't
spend time daily studying the Scriptures.
Second, you must keep going when you want to quit. When Jeremiah was “weary with forbearing,” he “could not stay.”
There are times when you are just going to have to determine to put one
foot in front of the other. It is the determination to continue that at
times will be the only thing that keeps you from quitting.
Third, look at how quitting will validate what your enemies have
said about you. Jeremiah knew that if he quit, his enemies would say
that they had prevailed against him. Don't allow your enemies the
privilege of winning. The thought of your enemies having their victory
party should light a fire in your heart to keep going. Your enemies have
waited for years for you to quit; don't give them the satisfaction that
they have prevailed.
Fourth, looking at Who’s with you will keep you from quitting. Jeremiah said in verse 11, “But the LORD is with me…”
When you see that the LORD is walking by your side, you will find the
strength to continue. My friend, you are not in this battle alone. The
LORD is fighting alongside you; don't despair and let the weight of the
battle cause you to quit.
Fifth, seeing the end through faith will keep you from quitting.
When Jeremiah looked to the end through faith, he saw that his enemies
would not prevail. The enemy may seem to be enjoying a victory lap for a
short period, but when you read the last Book in the Scriptures, you
will see that we win the war. If you look at life through faith, you
will find the encouragement to continue.
My friend, there is nothing wrong with wanting to quit, but it is
wrong to quit. If these five things are a regular part of your life, you
will find the fire burning in your heart to continue to go even when
you want to quit.