Do you ever think, “This is too hard, I quit!”?

“This is too hard, I quit!” This is a saying that my dear mentor has often shared with me as a feeling she has experienced. I have resonated with this sentiment so many times in my life. Perhaps it is while I was raising my children through the terrible twos or challenging teens. Or, it may have been in a work environment with a difficult project. I may have had the thought when approaching a relationship conflict or a struggle to hit a personal goal. 

Recently, I have experienced a time when life felt too hard. Because of my tendencies to look outside of myself for affirmation and approval, I felt as though I wanted to quit in the face of disapproval, conflict and hurt. This blog is being written later than usual because I felt like I didn’t have anything positive to share. Hiding, disengaging, and running away felt safer, easier and more appealing. 

Then, Love showed up in the most unexpected way. 

I am taking an online college course that allows for me to post class assignments on a discussion board. Additionally, students in the class are required to comment on other students’ posts. As I was looking back over comments made throughout the class, I found a comment from three weeks ago:

“Roxanne,

No one can judge your worth but God. He has made all of us worthy. What we choose to do with that worth is what makes a difference. Your journey in diversity may be the difference someday that someone else may need to understand they are worthy. God made us all different and gave us all different walks to make. None of them are easy, but all of them are necessary. Why? Well, we never know when God is using us. Sometimes, it is what someone sees, hears, understands, or just witnesses. Stand up, stand strong, and share love with all your heart and soul.”

And, just like that, my head is lifted. My heart is lightened. The desire to quit is a little less. Not only because of kind words (because I am still a words girl), but also because I am reminded that nothing is wasted. I don’t know when God is using me or something I have gone through. One day, my life may make a difference for someone else who is thinking, “This is too hard, I quit!” And, to me, having that hope makes all the difference.