By Brenda Cannon Henley
My pastor, who was also my employer and friend, found this admonition many years ago and purchased each staff member a copy for his or her office. It was a constant reminder of our jobs at the busy, growing church where we really didn’t observe set office hours. We simply worked until the job was done.

We went to staff meeting and devotions each morning at a given time, but our leaving for the day or week most often depended on what was going on in the lives of our members, the needs in the community we served, illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Because our church was quite large and our buildings held large crowds, we often were called upon to host huge crowds, which meant extra work for everyone.

As soon as the big Sunday evening service was over, we all dug our heals in to start working on the next week’s activities. Do you realize that many pastors and teachers consider quitting on Sunday afternoons? I am fairly certain that many of our wonderful volunteers that head up big festivals, sports endeavors, and other gatherings mull over quitting at the close of most of them.

On a more personal level, how many of our single moms and dads simply think from time to time that they cannot continue on the pace that has been set for them? How many times is there more month than money, the car needs tires or mechanical help, and a babysitter is not available?

Caregivers lose their own life perspective when they have cared for a very sick relative or spouse for a long time. The caregiver is so engrossed in doctor appointments, prescriptions, daily food, cleanliness, and encouragement that they tend to lost their own friendship circle, activities, life goals, and sometimes, their health.

Let’s be honest here – Do you ever really get tired of being the good guy? Do you look around and see others living seemingly carefree lifestyles, partying, traveling, living the good life, while you are waited down with duties and responsibilities? Do you just want to throw in the towel and quit? I have wanted to quit before.

Satan uses discouragement, lack of true partnerships, shortage of funding, rotten attitudes, and much more to tempt us to forget we want to do things right, fulfilling our goal of truly helping others, and carrying on until the tasks are finished. Sometimes in my own life, just simple rest is tempting.

May I remind you (and me) today that God knows what each of us face, what our burdens and needs are, and what we can achieve if we just don’t quit.

Take a deep breath, reevaluate, ask for help if needed, and carry on where God has placed you until He sends the next assignment.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409-781-8788, or
[email protected]

[Feb-17-2020]