““I am not able to carry all this people I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I once, if I find favor in your sight, that I

may not see my wretchedness.”may not see my wretchedness.”

The Words of Moses, spoken to God from Numbers 11:14-15

When you Feel Like When you Feel Like Giving UpGiving Up

Reasons why some give up on God, Reasons why some give up on God, and what we should do when we and what we should do when we

feel that wayfeel that way

Because Tragedy StrikesBecause Tragedy Strikes• Despite being blameless in character, and Despite being blameless in character, and

regularly offering burnt offerings on regularly offering burnt offerings on behalf of each of his children, Job lost his behalf of each of his children, Job lost his children, possessions, and health. Yet children, possessions, and health. Yet never gave up. Book of Job never gave up. Book of Job

• The Lord is near the brokenhearted and The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:15-saves the crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:15-1818

• Rather than being anxious, take it to God Rather than being anxious, take it to God and He will provide peace, that will guard and He will provide peace, that will guard our hearts. Philippians 4:6-7.our hearts. Philippians 4:6-7.

• God offers peace that nothing in the God offers peace that nothing in the world can provide: John 14:27.world can provide: John 14:27.

When You Feel Like Giving Up

Because Someone Because Someone Disappoints/Wrongs UsDisappoints/Wrongs Us

• David and Absalom: 2 Samuel 13:1-19:8. David and Absalom: 2 Samuel 13:1-19:8. Despite rape, murder and treason from his Despite rape, murder and treason from his sons, David never gave up on God.sons, David never gave up on God.

• Job: Job 2:9-10. In the midst of horrendous Job: Job 2:9-10. In the midst of horrendous suffering, Job’s Wife encouraged him to “curse suffering, Job’s Wife encouraged him to “curse God and die”. His friends said he was to blame.God and die”. His friends said he was to blame.

• Parable of the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32. Parable of the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32. The son had left home and wasted his The son had left home and wasted his inheritance with wild living. When his father’s inheritance with wild living. When his father’s saw his son from afar, ran out to meet him…..saw his son from afar, ran out to meet him…..

When You Feel Like Giving Up

Because Someone Because Someone Disappoints/Wrongs UsDisappoints/Wrongs Us

• Joseph: Genesis 37-50.Joseph: Genesis 37-50.

• Jesus tells us to Love our Enemies. Jesus tells us to Love our Enemies. Matthew 5:43-48Matthew 5:43-48

• Bless those who Persecute You: Romans Bless those who Persecute You: Romans 12:14-21.12:14-21.

When You Feel Like Giving Up

• David’s sin with Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11-David’s sin with Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11-12. David’s attitude reflected in Psalms 12. David’s attitude reflected in Psalms

32.32.Peter: Denied the Lord three times, with Peter: Denied the Lord three times, with

cursing. Luke 22:31-62.cursing. Luke 22:31-62.Peter: Hypocritically avoided Gentiles and Peter: Hypocritically avoided Gentiles and was confronted by Paul. Galatians 2:11-was confronted by Paul. Galatians 2:11-

13.13.

Because You have Failed

When You Feel Like Giving Up

• Demas (2 Timothy 4:10) & the Rich Demas (2 Timothy 4:10) & the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22)

chose this world. chose this world. Moses gave up life as an Egyptian Moses gave up life as an Egyptian

Prince to suffer hardship with God’s Prince to suffer hardship with God’s people. Hebrews 11:25people. Hebrews 11:25

Elijah believed he was the only one Elijah believed he was the only one remaining in Israel who had remained remaining in Israel who had remained

faithful to God. 1 Kings 19:1-18 faithful to God. 1 Kings 19:1-18

Because the World Seems So Attractive

When You Feel Like Giving Up

• The world and all that is desirable about it is passing The world and all that is desirable about it is passing away. 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 4:18away. 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 4:18

Even if we could gain everything the world has to Even if we could gain everything the world has to offer, it still wouldn’t be worth losing our souls for it. offer, it still wouldn’t be worth losing our souls for it.

Matthew 16:26 Matthew 16:26Friendship with the world is enmity with God. James Friendship with the world is enmity with God. James

4:44:4

The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. I The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. I Corinthians 1:20-30. Don’t be tricked by it. Corinthians 1:20-30. Don’t be tricked by it.

Colossians 2:8.Colossians 2:8.

Because the World Seems So Attractive

When You Feel Like Giving Up

• Don’t grow weary! We will reap in due time Don’t grow weary! We will reap in due time if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9

Remember that God has provided us with Remember that God has provided us with the tools to overcome the fiery darts of the tools to overcome the fiery darts of

Satan! Ephesians 6Satan! Ephesians 6God will provide us a way to overcome! 1 God will provide us a way to overcome! 1

Corinthians 10:13 Corinthians 10:13 God expects us to continue to pray and not God expects us to continue to pray and not

lost heart!. Luke 18:1lost heart!. Luke 18:1God sees when we are persecuted and will God sees when we are persecuted and will reward us accordingly. Matthew 5:11-12reward us accordingly. Matthew 5:11-12

Remember that our faithfulness will pay off

When You Feel Like Giving Up