“Lots of hard things are worth pursuing, and grit is good for getting you to stick with it when it’s right. But lots of hard things are not worth pursuing, and the ability to walk away when it’s right is also a skill worth developing.” Annie Duke, Quitting: The Power to Walk Away
As we lead ministries, undoubtedly, there are moments for perseverance where we must lean in and remain consistent. And too, just as important, there are moments we must pause and consider whether something about our ministry should change. It can be difficult to discern when to persevere through the challenges of our current commitments and when to let them go.
If you’re here—trying to decide your next step—we’d invite you to learn from other Advocates who have been where you are now to consider when it may be time to walk away. Here are the questions they are asking:
1. Does it fit into your schedule anymore?
Our lives are in constant ebb and flow. Maybe right now, it just logistically doesn’t work because it’s causing you to be distracted or unavailable to those closest to you.
“Things that aren’t full-time can still take a lot of your time. It might not even be the amount of time, but the specific time frame makes it a no.”
“Once in a while, it feels like God is slamming a door saying, ‘enough wasting your time on this,’ and we are stubborn saying, ‘we want to see this through.’ These are minutes we could be using for God’s glory.”
“We have to quit trying to say yes to everything, because it stretches the ministry too thin even if they are all good things.”
2. Is it draining or life-giving?
Maybe there was a time that the Lord called you to provide a particular need, but now it feels like a burden that is depleting your energy.
“We were mentally and physically exhausted and could see it in our kids too. Time to take a break doesn’t mean no forever.”
“Say yes to what you have the capacity for vs. stretching and underdelivering.”
3. Does it feel like you will disappoint someone if you step away?
It’s hard to say no when we believe there isn’t someone else to fill the need. But just because there’s a gap doesn’t mean it’s our role to fill.
“The challenge can be in the concern of letting others down even if we believe God is leading us to focus elsewhere.”
“A response to the apathy we see in others can be to try to do all the things we don’t see others doing. Some things need to give even when it is against our nature to want to fill the gap. Offer an alternative resource when possible.”
4. Is there someone else who could meet the need?
Maybe there truly is another organization or person who has the capacity to step in if they are aware of the need. We may feel like we’re the only ones with the passion or ability, but if we step aside, the Lord has the opportunity to stir someone else’s heart to get involved.
“We can ask ourselves: ‘What has the Lord invited us into, and what is for someone else?”
5. What is the Lord truly inviting you into?
Letting go of something you’ve worked hard to build is hard. It’s hard to let go of something you’ve put time and energy into. We must prayerfully consider which projects are still answering our call to serve the foster care community. The Lord knows what our community needs and what each one of us needs. So we can ask him, “Lord, what are you specifically inviting me into during this season?”
“Examine the reasons that you are currently saying yes. It has to be so prayerful.”
