Have you had one of those days where you just wanted to quit? I reached that point recently – I just wanted to lay everything down and take a nap…

…a five year nap.

I felt overwhelmed, stretched-too-thin and had convinced myself that certainly anyone else could all these things better than I could. So why bother? Why not step away from it all and quit?

What do you do when the world feels like it’s crumbling around you? When all those plates you’re spinning in the air seem as if they are tipping in different directions, ready to crash down upon your head at any moment?

Do you give in and run away, like I was tempted to do? Or do you dig your heels in and tell yourself, “This too shall pass.”

It frustrates me that at times like these my first reaction is always to run and hide (and long for that nap…). I’m grateful that God places people in my life to remind me of His truth and my responsibilities.

I shared my feelings and sense of being overwhelmed with a trusted friend during this time and they gently nudged me with the truth straight from God’s Word. In 1 Peter chapter five, we’re told, starting with verse six:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

This passage is packed with good stuff! First, we are to humble ourselves and lay ALL of our anxiety at His feet. So, when we’re feeling overwhelmed, all we need to do is run to Him and pour our hearts out to Him (Ps 62:8).

And secondly, we are to remember and be aware that our enemy, the devil, is always looking for ways to “devour” us. It’s so easy to get caught up in life on this planet and forget that there is a spiritual battle going on. The beauty of it all, though, is that all that God asks us to do to overcome this is Be Aware and Stand Firm. The battle is the Lord’s, but we are called to keep ourselves mindful of the spiritual battle that rages, so that we don’t give in to the enemy’s tricks and traps.

So, to break it down, I’m learning that there are several ways that we can keep ourselves afloat during the “I want to quit it all” moments.

Be Diligent – keep yourself daily in the Word of God. Take time throughout the day to pray – for yourself and for others – and to praise God for what He is doing in your life and in the world around you.

Stand Strong – Surround yourself with trusted counsel – friends who love the Lord and whom you can trust to speak truth into your life. Work together to stand strong and keep the faith when times are hard.

Wait – Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14

The next time you find yourself wanting to hide under the covers, remember the battle that rages around you. Dig deep and find the strength to stand firm in the faith and keep moving forward even when it feels impossible.