Remember These Truths When You’re about to Quit

Have you ever quit something? Maybe you left the team, a trip, or a dream behind because you got too discouraged.

Sometimes, quitting feels like the easier way out.

When your dreams seem pointless and impossible, should you give up?

A Story in the Bible about Giving Up

This is probably the section to quote Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

But that wouldn’t help me. So I imagine it won’t help you much, either.

Instead, mind if I share a biblical account? Let’s walk through this together.

Do you remember Abraham and Sarah? In the Old Testament, we’re told this elderly couple didn’t have any kids. That doesn’t sound like a big deal but it was huge for them.

No kid meant no heir, and no heir meant no one to carry on the family name. No heir, and the family line would die out and history would forget them. No heir and you weren’t considered blessed by God.

Sarah would have faced hatred and bullying. Having kids—especially sons—meant being blessed and favored. But she had no one.

Until God showed up.

He made the couple a promise—that He would make them a great nation (Genesis 12:1–3). He appeared to them again with the same promise, and out of her disbelief, Sarah laughed (Genesis 18:12–15; Genesis 21:6).

Then ten years passed . . . and nothing happened.

Our Response

I used to think Sarah was crazy for laughing. God had proven Himself faithful. Who wouldn’t believe Him? Why laugh?

But if we’re being honest, she’s not the only one who would laugh. I would’ve. You probably would’ve, too. This promise sounded insane.

Even if you didn’t doubt right then, you might a year later . . . or the year after that . . . or five years down the line. You’d start to wonder if you heard it right or were forgetting some crucial part of the promise.

You’d begin to give up.

The End of the Story

Despite Sarah’s lack of faith or obedience, God fulfilled His promise. It was a long road, but after all that, Sarah had a baby boy named Isaac (Genesis 21:1–3).

God never gives up on us.

Practical Steps

Has God called you to something that seems crazy? A little over-the-top, maybe impossible?

What are you going to do about it?

Are you going to give up now, or are you going to trust?

These three keys can help you on your journey to pressing on, even as the road gets rougher and narrower.

Remember Your Why

You have a dream, but it just seems so impossible. Because you forgot why it even mattered to you in the first place.

It’s important to fix our eyes on why something matters so deeply to us. So in this step, write a motivational letter to your future discouraged self—you know she’ll need it at some point.

In this letter, write every reason why you need this goal, what about it sparks joy in you, and why you are so passionate about it. When you meet your goal, what will it change in your life? What does your future suddenly look like?

What is the why behind your dream?

Set Smaller Goals

Sometimes we get paralyzed by how big the journey is and how small our steps are. But the truth is, one step closer is still just that . . . closer.

So while it might seem like your little steps of faithfulness mean nothing, they add up to something great.

Start by allowing yourself that easy-to-swallow chunk. Give yourself an easily achievable goal. Write down something small you can do today.

And then reach for it.

Give Yourself Grace

Have you ever noticed that stress holds you back? Worry paralyzes us if we’re not careful. Allow yourself to breathe, rest, and take a step back every once in a while.

Don’t Give Up

Dear warrior, don’t give up.

What if Sarah had never doubted? What if she had remained faithful?

I know, easier said than done.

Asking for the impossible in prayer, pushing yourself to exceed expectations, and giving your all in suffering for the Lord . . . it’s way easier to say “I quit.”

But is it worth it?

Sometimes quitting has weightier consequences than fighting for the next step. Every time you feel like quitting, remind yourself of your why. Why giving up isn’t worth the price.

If God has made you a promise, hold your head up. He has never failed His people, and He’s not going to start with you.

It might take time. It might take grit. It might take faithfulness.

But one day, it could happen.

So be strong, dear warrior, and fight for that next step.