Are You About to Give Up? Don’t + Free Devotional

Can I be honest with you for a minute, friend?  I almost gave up.

I considered quitting blogging a few weeks ago.

Yes, friend, you read that right.  I, the one who’s been encouraging you for well over a year now to embrace your calling from God and find your purpose, I almost gave up.

I wish I had a good read to give you as to why I considered quitting blogging.  But, I’m afraid, friend, that my reasons were… well, they were just silly.

I think, though, the reasons I had to just give up were issues many people doing a work for the Lord deal with.

Ready to talk about it?  Alright, here we go.

What Made Me Consider Quitting

So, I guess there is no one better to use as an example than me, right?  And I’m betting you’re curious as to why I considered quitting.  I mean, if I were you, I’d want to know.

One morning a couple weeks ago, it was a Monday.  You know how Mondays go.  Either they’re wonderful.  Or from the moment you step out of the bed, you can just tell it’s gonna be a struggle.  That Monday was the latter.  I was driving that struggle bus like a mad woman and I’m pretty sure I didn’t have a seat belt on.

Well, before I got into the shower that morning, I checked my phone and noticed I had a couple notifications from my blog groups about their wins for the week.  And that’s when it happened.

The comparison bug bit.  And it bit HARD.

Right after that? Discouragement settled in and it was one of those discouragements where it couldn’t just be me discouraged over one thing.  It turned into being discouraged over eight or nine things.  (I’m probably exaggerating about the number here, but you get the point, right?)

I like to think of the Comparison Bug as one of Satan’s cronies. Have you ever watched The Wizard of Oz?  If you have, do you remember how the Wicked Witch of the West had those unpleasant looking flying monkeys to do her bidding?

That’s pretty much what the Comparison Bug does for Satan.  Then, once you get bit, the wounds just gets worse.

If we leave the wound untreated, it sets up infection.  You know what that infection is, I bet.  Yep, you guessed it.  Discouragement.

Sometimes, comparison and discouragement go hand in hand.  

Have You Been Bitten?

Maybe, dear reader, you’re in a similar place.

You know God called you to do something very specific for Him.  You felt God press it upon your heart.  And you couldn’t shake the feeling, no matter how hard you tried or how hard you ran from it.

So, you gave in, surrendered, and followed your calling.  You dug in and gave your whole heart to the task God assigned you.  When you needed to learn a new skill in order to excel at your assignment, the Lord provided the tools to learn.  When you needed funds to carry on, the Good Lord surprised you with the money necessary to continue.

There was absolutely no doubt in your heart about your calling.  And you enjoyed doing it.

But, then… you lost a little bit of your focus.  You took a minute to stop and look around and then you noticed other people God had assigned to do the same task.

Just when you start to notice all the good they were doing, too, and wondering why you weren’t as far along with your ministry as that person was….

Comparison bit.  Then discouragement set in.

You started to think maybe you weren’t cut out for the job.  Maybe you wondered if you were wasting your time.  And maybe you even began to question if you heard God clearly.  And then, you considered it and decided it was time to give up.

I mean, those other Christians assigned to the same calling are doing a great job.  Why does the Lord need you?  Surely, He doesn’t need you, too, right?

Do Not Give Up, Friend

Wrong, friend.  If the Lord called you, He needs you.  Plain and simple.

You see, God has called you for a specific reason.  Maybe you don’t know that reason and that’s okay.  Or, maybe you do?  And sure, okay.  Maybe God has called other people to do the same job as you.

But, you know what?

Those same people are not you.  They don’t have your testimony.  They can’t reach the same hearts that you can.  That’s why God has a purpose for each of us.  Because each of us can work together to further the Kingdom using our own talents and testimonies.  Even if He’s called others to the same task as you.

You, friend, have a specific and important work to do, regardless of what others around you are doing.

No one can sing that song of praise just like you can.

No one can tell your testimony of faith better than you.If the Lord has called you, He needs you. Plain and simple. Click To Tweet

There’s not a soul in this world who can fulfill your purpose, but you.

Sure, you can notice, admire, and support the good works of others.  But, don’t let their good works distract you from your own.  When you’re distracted, your own works get neglected.  And that’s just what the enemy of our souls wants.  To stop us from spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

Friend, if you do get bit with comparison and discouragement sets in, pray about it.  I guarantee you the Lord will send you a few solid reminders about why He called you to that job in the first place.

Your work is important.  Don’t forget it.  Shine bright!

P.S. Are you struggling with your calling? Subscribe and receive your free devotional, Lord, Do I Have a Calling?