This is not the time to quit doing what you know is right. Sure it is hard! Change causes friction—and if you are to be moving from where you are to where you need to be, you will have friction, there’s just no way around it.
We must pray for boldness and grace as we follow through with what He has called us to do. This is the third request (see earlier post) that I have made to God, “Lord, give me boldness, because I know that doing the right thing is going to be hard…really hard. And, give me grace. Help me to have a right spirit through it all and help me to be full of joy.”
When attacked, there are two reactions that I find ever lurking in the back of my mind. The first is just to quit. The second is to get angry. Neither one of these will produce anything that pleases God. So, daily, I find myself running back to the Word, arguing myself back to truth, then praying through every part of this exercise of faith. It is not just “God’s will” for the ministry, He is also busy changing my life. I can say, “I don’t need this,” but God is bringing exactly what I need. Through this very struggle, I come to know Him more fully.
The fight—being criticized, judged, and misrepresented. This is what we don’t like, and this is what can make us want to quit. But remember, this same tension will also break us and drive us to greater levels of dependence—and fruitfulness. It’s worth it. Don’t quit.