September 17, 2011 with 6 Comments

434.

Never Quit

I quit my job once.

It was invigorating. It was liberating. It was easy.

It was wimpy.

I had just finished my residency in Pediatrics and was doing a fellowship in Jacksonville, Florida. When I arrived to Jacksonville in 1999, there was, much to my dismay and disappointment, only 1 Starbucks at the airport. The moment they opened a second one near my house, I got myself a job there.

I think I was trying to prove a point. I’m still not sure what that point was.

I lasted 2 and a half months. There were bets going on at the hospital as to how long I would last.

It wasn’t near as hard to quit as I thought it would be.

Earlier this week, someone sent me a joke about President Obama quitting his job. It wasn’t a funny joke but it got me thinking.

Can a president quit his job? It seems unheard of, ridiculous, improbable – no matter how much one may want to.

Winston Churchill once said: “Never, never, never quit”.

I like that. I think Jacob from Genesis would agree. He refused to quit. He refused to let go. He hung on to God with all of his might.

He had knuckles white, teeth gritting, arms shaking tenacity.

And he got himself a new name.

And a new understanding.

And a new vision of who God is.

And deliverance.

He also ended up with a life long limp.

Some would argue that Jacob should have let go sooner.

Others know: a limp is worth the cost.

What do you think?

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  • Milo

    He needed the limp to remember. Our memories are short and reminders are encouraged in scriptures. Deut 6. He also needed the limp to recognize how much he needed His help. A limp is not only worth it but the blessing of being heard. Good blog.

  • Amber

    He has a great story to share about how he was and God saved him. The limp is good. Thank you for the great reminder that God will save you from people that hurt you.

  • Jo

    Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
    More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

    2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)
    That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

    • Lina

      Perfectly stated, Jo. You always have a way with words that hits the spot! Thank u.

  • Jo

    God’s words are always perfect : )
    Thanks for feeding my thoughts!

  • Gina

    Morning.I read 3 times already yep cried and cried over everyone’s comments. alot of crying these days.this better not be menopause coming. Acts homework is very interesting. Im alittle slow being new @ it.Happy sat. :)