Summary: Does God really care about me? Why don't I just give up? When will life be easier?

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Why You Can’t Quit

I like to know that people think that I am right to be mad about my life. I like reading that... I need it. Sometimes I feel like quitting school, and work, and just locking myself in my room and refusing to eat, and just let myself wilt...

yeah sometimes I feel like quitting everything. or just driving away and leaving everything.

sometimes I feel like quitting school because it so meaningless…

“Take this job and shove it. I ain’t working here no more.”

“Talking to myself and feeling old... Sometimes I’d like to quit, nothing ever seems to fit.”

Why do people quit?

￢ They want it to be easy

￢ They are worn out.

￢ They are emotionally drained.

￢ They are scared of failure.

You heard about the guy who was laying on the ground with his ear against the pavement: “Late model green four door sedan, older man driving with two grandkids in the back. License plate 456-KXY.” “Ear to the ground, nothing! That’s the car that ran over me!”

We would all like life to be a bit easier. But then it wouldn’t be life, right?

The following are actual responses from comment cards given to the staff members at Bridger Wilderness Area in 1996:

Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.

Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the areas of these pests.

Please pave the trails so they can be snow-plowed during the winter.

Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.

A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call…

Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights.

Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.

A MacDonald’s would be nice at the trailhead.

SOURCE: In Quest of Convenience, Citation: Mike Neifert, Light and Life (February 1997), p. 27.

Give me some things in your life you’ve felt like quitting:

￢ Parenting.

￢ Trying to follow Jesus

￢ Marriage

￢ Job

￢ Trying to help someone

￢ Praying for a family member

Today, I’m here to tell you WHY YOU CAN’T QUIT!

1. Because Jesus could return at any time.

"Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)

2. Because God is on your side.

What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? Romans 8:31-32 (NLT)

3. Because blessings will come if you keep going.

So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

One day George Muller began praying for five of his friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Muller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Muller's funeral the last one was saved.

How can I keep going?

1. Get in the race for the long haul.

Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 13:43 (NLT)

The Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez went ashore not knowing what he would find. His men didn't know anything about what they would be facing, whether sickness, famine, war, etc. When they landed, they started inland and up a hill. When they got several hundred feet up, someone yelled. They turned and looked back, to see that all 11 ships were consumed in flames.

Cortez had set all the ships on fire. Escape/retreat was not even in their vocabulary.

The value of courage, persistence, and perseverance has rarely been illustrated more convincingly than in the life story of this man (his age appears on the right):

Failed in business 22

Ran for Legislature--defeated 23

Again failed in business 24

Elected to Legislature 25

sweetheart died 26

Had a nervous breakdown 27

Defeated for Speaker 29

Defeated for Elector 31

Defeated for Congress 34

Elected to Congress 37Defeated for Congress 39

Defeated for Senate 46

Defeated for Vice President 47

Defeated for Senate 49

Elected President of the United States 51

POWERPOINT>>>> That's the record of Abraham Lincoln.

"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way." - Abraham Lincoln

2. Get rid of the weights that slow you down.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

Lance Armstrong . . . wind tunnels with computer analysis. . . they evaluate and change his stance, his clothes, his bike. They will even do something as simple as moving a seam in his clothes.

Why? It’s all about getting rid of things that slow him down.

God has been talking to me about this. He’s been talking to me about having an “anything it takes” mindset about following Him.

3. Get connected to others for the journey.

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NKJV)

Emmitt Smith holds the NFL rushing record. He has run for 16,743 yards. That’s 9.5 miles! It has taken him 13 years to run only 9.5 miles. What’s the big deal about that? The big difference is, I didn’t have 11 huge defensive players trying to take my head off when I ran! Emmitt’s average run over those 9.5 miles was 4.3 yards at a time. That means he has been tackled and knocked down 3,983 times. And do you know what he did after every tackle? He got back up and ran the ball again. Sure, he was injured a few times, but he always returned. I’m impressed that someone would be knocked down almost 4,000 times and still they get up and run again.

Why did he keep going?

I imagine one reason is that every time he gets up, he hears the screams of 50,000 Cowboys fans that want him to keep going.

Would it be easier to get out of bed and live another day for Jesus if you had people cheering you on?

Would it be easier to keep doing right if you knew you were going to see some people Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night that loved you and were committed to you?

Would it be easier to resist temptation if you had several people you knew cared deeply about you, and wanted you to stay out of sin?

4. Get refocused on what God has called you to do.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)

POWERPOINT - RICE COOKER - first failure of a little company called..... Sony.

5. Get your eyes on Jesus.

...And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.* He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)

To do this, you’re going to have to get your eyes off people. . . off circumstances. . .

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List some things in your life you may feel like quitting right now:

Here are some reasons why you can’t quit:

1. Because _____________________________ at any time.

" I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Revelation 3:11

2. Because God is _____________________________.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

3. Because _____________________________ if you keep going.

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

Tips to keep Going:

1. Get in the race _________________________________.

When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 13:43

2. Get rid of the weights that _______________________.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

List some “weights” you may have to get rid of to run with endurance:

3. Get _____________________________ for the journey.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

This is why you need a _______________ ____________________.

4. Get refocused on what God has ____________________ _____________.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

5. Get your __________________________.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3