A month back, Sheila and I drove twenty miles north to Canyon Lake to look at a living room bench—kind of a flat white church pew. A few miles up the freeway, I noticed a liquid amber leaf from the tree next to where we park our F150 was stuck on the windshield wiper arm. That leaf stayed on the entire trip up and back, at speeds up to 75 mph. AND, the wiper arm still holds it, with several other trips in between. That’s one tough leaf to take such a beatin’ and keep on truckin’.
Feel like you’re taking a beating from life? A job, a spouse, a church, a friend? Let me suggest that if we keep on truckin’, like the leaf, we might be surprised at our adventures. But more than gaining journeys, hanging in develops patience, a fruit of the Spirit, which in the Greek language literally means “long-suffering.” Yes, we suffer, in many manners. But sometimes we quit too soon. That temptation grows particularly strong in our please me, instant gratification age. And when we bail too quickly, we may lose out on some journeys, our character may not develop strength and patience. We quench the Spirit’s work in us.
Yes, we get tired of “doing the right thing,” we get bruised, but God offers a promise, “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). Or, we default to continuing to do the right thing. At the proper time, the all-wise and all-loving God will bring results.
Please don’t think I’m telling you to endure toxic and evil suffering. The time may come to cut some ties. I’ve done both: bail too soon, or too late. Both can bring damage, so we must be wise. I love the freedom in Paul’s encouragement, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil…If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:17-18).
We must do our best to make the situation work, but we can’t always live in peace with all people nor situations. So how can we tell it’s time to quit? This really deserves a new post, which may come later. Yet, some suggestions.
1 Can we honestly say we’ve done our best to redeem it?
2 How central is this issue or person?
3 How toxic is it long term?
4 How biblical is this issue?
5 Is this one where we’re wise to find a replacement before ending it? (Note, not an option for marriages, more like jobs)
6 What damage will ending this bring? Is that more than enduring it?
7 What spiritual implications come into play?
8 Have you prayed and sought wise counsel?
9 What do you sense God desires? Has he given strength or opened or closed doors?
10 Will this change bring me closer to God or further away?
Kick Starting the Application
Do you tend to quick too soon or too late? Why? Does such an issue touch your life right now? How will you resolve it?