Feeling Under Attack?

When the Enemy Whispers “Quit,” God Says “Continue.”

Hey God’Sip and Tea fam,

Can we just be real for a moment? Lately, I’ve been feeling a pressure so intense, it’s like a spiritual weight pressing down on my chest. It’s the kind of pressure that makes you want to throw in the towel, delete all your drafts, shut down your projects, and just… stop. Stop studying, stop writing, stop building the ministry God has placed in my heart. The whisper is insidious: “Just stop. Let ‘them’ win. Let ‘them’ feel like they finally got to you.”

And you know what? In those moments of exhaustion, that whisper can sound pretty convincing. It feels like a competition, doesn’t it? Like if you just give up, someone out there gets to raise their hands in victory, feeling satisfied that they finally broke your spirit or derailed your purpose.

But I know I can’t be the only one feeling this way. And if you’re nodding along, hear this: NO. We do not stop.

The Battlefield of Purpose

This feeling isn’t new; it’s as old as faith itself. When we commit to pursuing God’s will, when we step out in faith to build, create, or serve, we inevitably step onto a spiritual battlefield. Our adversary, the enemy of our souls, doesn’t want us to succeed. Why? Because our success—our faithfulness, our growth, our obedience—brings glory to God and expands His Kingdom. And that’s precisely what the enemy wants to prevent.

Think about it: have you ever felt this intense urge to quit when you were doing nothing? Probably not. This overwhelming desire to cease your efforts is often a strong indicator that you are precisely where God wants you to be, doing exactly what you should be doing. The attack isn’t a sign you’re failing; it’s a sign you’re a threat.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) reminds us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Notice what Peter says: Resist him, standing firm in the faith. He doesn’t say, “When things get tough, pack up and go home.” He says stand firm! The call isn’t to retreat; it’s to remain steadfast.

Depletion vs. Defeat: Understanding the Tactic

One of the enemy’s most effective tactics is depletion. It’s not always a head-on assault but a slow, draining process. It saps your energy, whispers doubts into your mind, and magnifies every obstacle until they look insurmountable. It’s designed to make you feel defeated so that you choose to quit.

The theological principle here is spiritual warfare. We are not fighting against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Our “competitors” aren’t ultimately other people; our true struggle is against spiritual forces that seek to undermine God’s purposes in our lives. Giving up on our God-given assignments isn’t winning a competition; it’s conceding ground to the enemy.

Your Work is Not a Competition, It’s a Calling

This brings us to a crucial point: Your purpose, your calling, your gifts – these are not for a worldly competition; they are for God’s glory. The enemy wants you to view your journey through a lens of human rivalry, making you believe that your surrender grants someone else a victory. That’s a lie straight from the pit!

When God plants a “Will” in you—whether it’s to study His Word deeply, write encouraging words, or build a ministry—it’s not for your glory alone, nor is it subject to their approval. It’s an act of obedience, a seed sown into the Kingdom.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) encourages us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

This scripture is a direct antidote to the “quit” whisper. It acknowledges that weariness will come. Doing good is hard. But there’s a promise attached to perseverance: a harvest. Not a trophy from a competition, but a harvest from faithful endurance.

Examples of God’s People Refusing to Quit

This isn’t just theory; it’s a lived reality throughout history and in our daily lives.

In the Bible:

Nehemiah Building the Wall: Nehemiah was tasked with rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, a critical act of restoration for his people. What did he face? Mockery from Sanballat and Tobiah, threats of physical attack, and internal discouragement. They tried to lure him away, to exhaust his people, to stop the work. Nehemiah’s response? “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3). He refused to be distracted or deterred, and the wall was completed in an astonishing 52 days!
Paul’s Enduring Ministry: The Apostle Paul faced shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment, hunger, sleepless nights, and constant opposition from false teachers and hostile authorities (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). He had every human reason to quit, to retreat, to say “this isn’t worth it.” Yet, his letters are filled with exhortations to persevere, to run the race, to fight the good fight of faith. He understood that his suffering was part of his calling, and it ultimately served God’s greater purpose.
Jesus in Gethsemane: Even our Lord Himself faced the ultimate “quit” moment. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of the world’s sin pressed so heavily on Him that He sweated blood (Luke 22:44). He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42). He could have stopped, but He chose to continue in obedience to the Father’s will, knowing the harvest that would come from His sacrifice.

In Life Today:

The Ministry Leader Facing Burnout: You see them, or maybe you are them. Pouring their heart and soul into serving others, only to face criticism, lack of resources, dwindling volunteers, and personal exhaustion. The enemy whispers, “This isn’t working. You’re failing. Give up and get a ‘normal’ job.” But the faithful leader, grounded in their calling, finds new ways to rest, delegate, pray, and pivot, rather than abandoning the mission entirely.
The Student of the Word Struggling with Doubt: Someone committed to deep theological study or simply understanding their Bible better might hit a wall—a challenging doctrine, a period of doubt, or simply overwhelming academic pressure. The thought arises: “This is too hard. I’m not smart enough. I should just stick to easy devotionals.” Yet, pushing through these seasons, grappling with tough questions, and continually seeking truth often leads to profound breakthroughs and a more robust, resilient faith.
The Aspiring Christian Writer Facing Rejection: Imagine pouring your heart into a book, a blog, or an article, only to face silence, rejection letters, or even negative feedback. The temptation is to delete everything, convince yourself you have nothing worthwhile to say, and never write another word. But the writer who understands their gift as a stewardship from God will keep writing, keep refining, and keep submitting, knowing their words have purpose, even if the path to publication is long and winding.

So, What Do We Do Instead of Stopping?

Reduce, Don’t Remove: If the weight is too heavy, scale back. Instead of abandoning your studies, commit to just 15 minutes a day. Instead of a full blog post, jot down a few bullet points. Instead of a large ministry task, focus on one small, manageable action. The key is to keep the spark alive, to maintain momentum, and to deny the enemy the satisfaction of a complete shutdown.
Re-Anchor to Your “Why“: Why did you start? What was the original fire God ignited in your spirit? Go back to that core calling. Remind yourself of the divine purpose, not the external pressure.
Seek Community: Isolation is the enemy’s playground. Share what you’re going through with a trusted spiritual mentor, a fellow believer, or a friend in your ministry. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) speaks to this: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We need each other to fight this weariness!
Pray for Renewed Strength: Our strength comes from the Lord. When we are weak, He is strong. Bring your weariness, your frustration, and your feelings of being overwhelmed directly to Him.

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) promises, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

This isn’t just a nice verse; it’s a theological promise of divine empowerment. God will renew your strength when you lean into Him, even when the enemy tries to weigh you down.

Friends, the “God’Sip and Tea” table is a place of encouragement. If you’re feeling this way, you are seen, you are understood, and you are not alone. Let’s encourage each other to stand firm, to resist the whisper, and to press on with the “Will the Lord planted in us.”

What’s one small step you can take today to keep moving forward, even if it feels tiny? Share in the comments! Let’s lift each other up.

Stay strong, stay faithful, and keep sipping that good tea!

Blessings,

‘God’Sip and Tea