Sunday Inspiration: Sunday, September 22, 2024
How To Be a Quitter
Let Fear Control Your Life
Psalm 56: 1 - 4
Once again, we gather to learn the ancient art of being a quitter. If you will be a quitter, I want you to learn how to quit with style and grace. If you are going to master the noble art of being a quitter, then you need to know some loser proverbs.
First, Do All Things Halfway, Then Get Distracted. The world is full of people telling you to “finish what you start.” But why finish when you can quit at the halfway mark, then later claim, “I would have finished, but something came up!” It’s brilliant! Start a project, but stop the moment it requires effort.
Second, Avoid Commitment at All Costs. If someone asks you to help with a project, volunteer, or even just attend an event, remember these magic words: “I’m so busy right now. Maybe next time!” The beauty of this technique is that you’ll always have an excuse on hand, but you never actually have to do anything.
Third, If You Never Start, You Never Have to Quit! This is a genius way to be seen as a quitter. Don’t even begin that project, that dream, that goal you’ve been considering. Stay right where you are—safe and comfortable.
You need to do a few things to live out these quitter proverbs. First, we said that you need to master the art of making excuses. Making excuses is critical for those who aspire to miss out on the best life offers. We explored the parable that Jesus told of guests who were invited to a dinner party and made excuses for not going. As Jesus tells the story, the master of the house sent the servant to find others to take their place. We said, “Keep making excuses, and the invitation will go to someone else.”
God’s goal is to fill the house. You can choose whether you will be part of the banquet. An excuse is a lack of desire. When you make an excuse, you are self-identifying your priorities. So, if you want to miss out on the life God has planned for you, make excuses. It's your choice.
Last week, Rev. Clifton invited us to master the art of complaining. The Israelites brought us the biblical class on being a quitter by mastering the art of complaining as they wandered through the desert.
Carolyn showed us how, if willing, we can rise from being a quitter by starting our day with gratitude, seeking help when life seems overwhelming, and taking our burdens to the Lord. But if you want to be a quitter, do nothing and complain about your life.
Today, I want to discuss how you must let fear control your life if you want to be seen as a quitter. The motto of the person who lets fear control their life is When in Doubt, Panic. When the road ahead is unclear, panic. When the task seems overwhelming, panic. When uncertainty is the name of the game, panic. When in doubt, panic.
Finish this sentence: When I am afraid, I________________.
When I am afraid, I hide under the covers. When I am afraid, I make up scenarios in my head. When I am afraid, I make excuses. When I am afraid, I complain. When I am afraid, I blame others. When I am afraid, I pass judgment.
We all experience fear, which comes in many forms: fear of failure, loss, the unknown, or rejection. The challenge is that it is usually thrust upon us without warning. We find ourselves in a situation that requires a response, and our go-to response often is fear. The real issue isn’t fear unless we make it the issue. The real problem is where we put our trust when we are afraid. Fear confronts us with the question of where we put our trust.
According to the editorial note at the beginning of Psalm 56, the psalm was written by David as he was hiding out from Saul in the land of Gath. After David’s defeat of Goliath and success in military battles, Saul became jealous and hostile toward David. Fearing for his life, David fled and took refuge in caves and surrounding cities. In fear, David fled to Gath, a Philistine town. When the people of Gath recognized David as the man who had killed their champion, fear gripped David again. Rather than trusting in God’s protection, David pretended to be insane, drooling and acting irrationally to convince King Achish that he was no threat.
Later, in 1 Samuel 27, David returned to Gath under different circumstances. Saul had stopped chasing David, and David was showing support to Israel by secretly fighting off the people in opposition to Israel.
Somewhere between I Samuel 21 and 1 Samuel 27, David reflected on his answer to the question, “When I am afraid, I_______” and came up with the answer, “When I am afraid, I will trust God.” He demonstrated that trust in Psalm 56.
If you can imagine David under the light of a campfire after a stressful night of being pursued by King Saul, he writes, “My enemies trample on me all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me” (Psalm 56: 2 - 4).
Say it with me: “When I am afraid, I will trust God.” When fear confronts us with where we put our trust, we declare our trust in the Lord. When fear tries to make us quit, we remind ourselves that our trust is in the Lord. Fear’s mission is to guide you away from the life God has for you, to steer you clear of growth. Fear wants to fortify your walls of excuses and keep you cramped inside your comfort zone. David’s psalm teaches us that when confronted with fear, we can trust God.
I know there is a lot to be afraid of in this life. I am not denying the reality of situations and circumstances that give us reason to fear. Sometimes, you want to cry because of all the pain that exists in the world. Sometimes, you want to shed tears for the hurt that others cause. But here this word of comfort from the psalmist that he declares of God, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle” (Psalm 56:8).
When life was hard, and the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God says, “I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering” (Exodus 3:7).
God heard their cries, witnessed their pain, and bottled up their tears. God does the same for us. God doesn’t leave us in our misery. God sees our tears. God knows what causes us to be afraid. The tears of fear are not being ignored. We are assured that one day, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4).
Three of the four gospels tell the story of Peter walking on water. After some intense teaching, Jesus put his disciples in a boat ahead of him to the other side of the lake.
Before sunrise, Jesus walked to the disciples on the water. The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost and became afraid. Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Peter says, “Lord, if it's you, invite me out on the water with you.” Jesus says, “Come on!”
Peter gets out of the boat and walks to Jesus on the water. But as he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink. The waves and the wind speak to his fear, and he loses faith. Jesus comes to his rescue and helps him back in the boat.
Three lessons:
Fear will sink you. If we let it, fear can drown us. And some of you are letting it sink you. Fear can easily cause you to quit. Some of you are in that state of fear today.
A little faith is better than no faith. Peter had little faith. The disciples in the boat had no faith. You don’t need faith for the entire challenge. You need faith for the next step.
Jesus can be found where you allow your faith to take you. You don’t have to take the step of faith alone. Jesus is already out front.
What one step of faith do you need to take today? Write it down. Pray about it. May we not drown in our fears but walk in faith, trusting our fears to the Lord.
Fear may try to convince you to quit, but God calls you to trust Him. Don’t let fear sink you—step out in faith, even if it’s just a small step. Write down your next move and spend a moment praying for strength to trust God in your fear this morning. Today, choose to walk on the waters of faith, knowing that Jesus is there. Amen.
Pastor Jamey
(Click Here to Watch the Worship Service from Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, Georgia)
Questions to Consider:
When faced with fear, do you tend to panic, make excuses, or avoid taking action? What practical steps can you take this week to confront those fears and trust God instead?
Consider a recent moment when fear tried to sink you. How can you apply the lesson from Peter’s story to take just one small step of faith in that area?
Identify a goal or dream you've hesitated to start due to fear of failure or the unknown. What is one specific action you can take this week to step out in faith, trusting that Jesus is with you?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, May we choose faith over fear and rely on Your strength to persevere. Guide our steps as we seek to follow You with courage and boldness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Benediction:
May you embrace the life God has prepared for you, not with excuses, but with faith and determination. Go forth, knowing that when fear arises, you can declare, “When I am afraid, I will trust in God.” Go in peace in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Share On Social Media
When fear tells you to quit, remind yourself: ‘When I am afraid, I will trust in God.’ Faith moves us forward, fear keeps us stuck. #FaithInAction #TrustGod
Fear says quit, but God says trust. Don’t let fear sink you; take the next step of faith and walk with Him. #FaithOverFear #TrustGod
