It was a beautiful morning ride and I was on a mission.  My first triathlon (sprint distance) was only 4 short weeks away and I knew that I had a lot of work left to do to be ready-ish.  My life is crazy busy and I, in no way, would say that I am in shape but it was once written about me that I am not easily deterred and that was truth.

I realized quickly that I was going to be riding into the wind once I turned around to head back, and we all know how that goes.  (If you don’t know what I am talking about see previous post here)  I wasn’t looking forward to it but I knew at least that I would be on my way back, not just starting out.  A few short moments later something rather minor happened that made my mind go a little wonky.  My heart fluttered, skipped a beat… whatever you want to call it.  Now before we get all excited (and by excited I mean concerned) about this please trust that I am monitoring this carefully.  However, for the first time ever I was terrified for some reason that I wasn’t going to make it back.  I just wanted to quit.

What happened in my mind in that moment left me having no interest in completing this ride.  I wanted out, I wanted off the bike and just wanted to crawl back into bed.  However, I knew that wasn’t an option in this moment,  so I had to keep going.  Remembering that I was in the middle of this blogging series I figured I could use this experience to think about that rather than what just happened.

How often in our lives do we come across something, no matter how large or small and something clicks in our minds and we are just done.  Timed out, ready to throw in the towel, quit.

Friends, when times get tough or if you are anything like me, I get stuck inside my own head so much that sometimes I can’t see reality… that it just might be easier to quit.

What would happen if we all just quit when things got tough, when our minds get the best of us or when the world tells us that we can’t do something??  Think back in your own life of the things that you almost gave up on, but didn’t.  What were they?

For me, well the list is lengthy but I can start with being called to a church plant, becoming GM of a hotel at 24 and I can’t wait to add “completing a triathlon sprint” to that list.

The worst part about quitting is having to start over.  There is a reason that we take on the things that we do in life.  Sometimes we may never be meant to complete it but I like to try and leave those decisions up to God.  He knows.  He already has the plans in place, it’s just our responsibility to not be easily deterred and keep going.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10