The Bible tells us to endure, to keep going, several times. We may not be able to count the exact number, but we could say at least a couple of hundred times, if we count all the different expressions of “don’t quit” or “stick with it.” Which means that when we follow God, we will want to quit. We will need God’s grace to endure to do what’s right. At the same time, the Bible tells us to stop doing things, too. Run from sexual immorality, don’t be greedy for money, stop worshipping false gods, and more.
Therefore, when we want to quit, how do we know we’re supposed to keep going? To stick with it? Use the following 5 questions, and the accompanying workbook, to help you determine whether to stay the course or let it go.
1. Is This Serving God’s Kingdom?
Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” He doesn’t tell us to seek comfort, fame, or even a “good job” with visible success. Christ calls us to seek his rule and reign, his way of life breaking through into this world, and for this to be our first priority. Therefore, we must ask this question at the start.
The Kingdom of God carries its own culture. Paul tells us, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Kingdom culture is what’s produced under the loving reign of God in a place through a people. It includes right relationships with God and others. It brings peace in chaos and joy in hard times. It’s expressed in generosity, mercy, humility, truth, and sacrificial love. The Sermon on the Mount essentially relates the culture of the Kingdom (Matthew 5-7).
Kingdom culture stands in direct contrast to the world’s culture. The world contains self-promotion, temporary, and meaningless gain. Colossians 3:1-2 encourages us to “seek the things that are above” and to set our minds on eternal things, not the things of earth.
When we decide whether to stick with something, we should ask: Does this reflect Kingdom culture? Does it embody Christ’s character? Will it produce eternal fruit? Does it align with the King’s heart?
Jesus teaches us to pray for the Kingdom to come, God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Our actions in following Jesus should bring heaven to earth through love, justice, and preaching the Good News. Our activity should reflect heavenly value.
When we ask, “Is it of the Kingdom?” we shift our thoughts to the eternal calling, the things that last.
2. Is it Biblical?
Scripture is the word of God, useful for teaching and guiding us as an absolute rule for life. The Bible expresses Kingdom values. Therefore, we must measure our priorities and life choices by Scripture. Does our activity align with the principles of good and honorable work outlined in the Bible? Meditatiing on this questions can help us to cut through our pride and anchor us in truth.
Scripture teaches that work as a gift from God. Even before the Fall, God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden with responsibilities to manage it. God’s purpose for work is to reflect and participate in God’s redemptive and creative nature. How does our work reflect this character? Does it contribute to human and environmental flourishing? Does it serve others or oppress them?
Paul instructs us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) Biblical work seeks to honor God, not men’s applause or our own profit. This addresses the attitude of our heart, why we do what we do. Our goal should be excellence for God’s pleasure. Proverbs connects righteousness with that which remains and wickedness with destruction. We can’t separate how and why we work from who we are becoming.
The Bible does value perseverance. Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good because God will reward us. We will reap what we sow. If our diligence aligns with Kingdom and biblical principles and we’re doing it from a pure heart, we might encounter difficulties and hardships. However, hardship alone doesn’t mean we should quit. Sometimes we must endure and trust God for the harvest.
At the same time, biblical principles include being wise stewards. God calls us to manage our time, gifts, and opportunities with responsibility and wisdom (1 Peter 4:10). God also calls us to rest; if something drains us of other responsibilities, it might mean we adjust or let go of it.
Either way, we must humbly submit our activity to God’s word, letting the Bible define success, goodness, and proper wisdom. This includes the freedom to walk away from anything contradicting his truth.
3. Has God Called You to It?
Building a bridge might be good and lead to human flourishing, but am I particularly called to do it? Many roles serve and advance the Kingdom, but not every good thing is something I should do with limited time. God calls each of us uniquely within the broader Kingdom reality.
He leads us personally by His Spirit. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Here, Jesus doesn’t describe a far-off God giving us vague commands. He’s a Shepherd who speaks to sheep and leads them to good waters and fields. He can and will clearly direct our paths when we trust him with our hearts. Despite how difficult the path might be, if he calls you to it, he will sustain you. He has a good purpose in it.
The Holy Spirit both initiates and continues to communicate God’s assignments. We must stay sensitive to his leading. In Acts 16, God had already called Paul to be a missionary. But as Paul prepared to preach in Asia, the Spirit stopped him and sent him to Macedonia. Paul obeyed, letting God adjust and redirect him. So we must reevaluate God’s leading. Is he still confirming this as my path? Do I still sense his conviction and peace in it?
We live in a world with countless options for careers, ministries, and causes. We could spend every waking moment chasing every opportunity and miss God’s true calling. Ephesians 2:10 makes it clear. God prepared good works beforehand for each of us to walk in.
So let’s ask God directly. Pray boldly. Invite trusted and mature believers to speak into your choices. Then obey when he speaks, even if the road is hard.
4. Are You Trying to Control What Only God Can Do?
Sometimes our lack of peace in a situation comes from a humbling reality. We’re trying to do God’s job. In our pride, we often seek to manipulate outcomes when that’s not our calling. When we cross that line, we carry burdens far too heavy for us.
God alone changes hearts, controls consequences. Only he builds the Kingdom. Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6) Paul and Apollos did their part, their calling from God with their gifts and talents. But Paul refused to take responsibility for the results. He knew his part, and from his past, he knew the dangers of religious pride. As we wonder whether we should stick with something, we might need to ask whether we’re trying to manufacture something not up to us.
We want to see people changed and saved, as we should. Yet in ministry or in God’s calling, we might try to save them rather than point them to Jesus. In a business, we might try to manipulate outcomes or compromise integrity for worldly success rather than trusting God’s provision. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” When we attempt to carry God’s part, we only get anxiety and frustration.
Even Jesus spoke and understood, some had ears to hear, and those had the responsibility to truly listen (Matthew 11:15 and many more). Jesus surrendered to the Father’s work and entrusted himself to God’s will (Luke 22:42). He did much teaching and many miracles, but he didn’t force outcomes. He left the results to the Father.
Our part is obedience. Consequences belong to God. Let us ask ourselves whether we are staying in an activity because we’re truly called, or because we’re trying to do God’s job. We should learn to obey and trust the loving Father with the outcomes. Let God be God. He’s the only one who can do that job.
5. Are You Faithful in Small Beginnings?
We often get discouraged because we put forth effort and see little or no results. The world celebrates big successes, people making millions of dollars, building massive businesses, and mega church numbers. Not that God can’t provide these things, or doesn’t want us to have them, but he celebrates small beginnings, too. In fact, given the preponderance of biblical narratives revealing this, he might prefer them. He loves to start with little or nothing (a barren woman, a virgin birth) and do amazing things through them. That way, God gets the glory. He creates from nothing.
In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus compares the heavenly Kingdom to a mustard seed, the smallest, but when it grows, it becomes a tree large enough for birds to nest in its branches. He continues with another parable, that of leaven in dough. That small portion changes the whole product. Quiet beginnings and regular growth lead to expansion, producing eternal fruit.
God called Abram, who didn’t have a child, and promised him a nation. He chose David, the youngest and forgotten shepherd boy, to be king. He sends his Son as a helpless babe in Bethlehem. The Savior of the world enters history in poverty and seeming insignificance.
Zechariah 4:10 asks, “Who has despised the day of small things?” God doesn’t, and neither should we. The small beginnings test our faith. They show whether we trust God’s promises or feel entitled to immediate results. God simply calls us to plant seeds, work the leaven in the dough, shepherd sheep in lonely places, disciple one person, write another page, or serve one needy family.
To obey God is a great success. Small beginnings help humble our hearts. When something grows slowly, we learn to pray and depend upon God, listening to his voice above all others. We rightly recognize that growth and life come from God, not us.
Don’t let the small beginnings or lack of worldly success discourage you. Ask the right questions, and if you’re called to it, be faithful. He will reward.
CLICK HERE OR THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COMPANION WORKBOOK FOR THIS ARTICLE.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Nick Fewings
