6 Times I Wanted to Quit Ministry . . . and 6 Reasons Why I Couldn’t

Over 40+ years of ministry, I’ve wanted to quit more than once. Here are some times when I was ready to give up, followed by some reasons why I couldn’t do it:

When I Wanted to Quit:

1. When, as a young pastor, I wound up with ulcers. I just couldn’t lay down the work or the burdens, nor was I willing to talk to anyone about my struggles. I bore them alone—which was costly. 
2. When a church member hollered at me six months into ministry. That has not happened since then, but I still remember the shock and the anguish. I had no idea such things happen to pastors. 
3. When emotional, physical, and spiritual fatigue overwhelmed me. I had no balance in my life, and I wasn’t stewarding myself well. Exhaustion won the day for a while. 
4. When good friends turned against me. We disagreed on something, and my good friends walked out. The pain was great enough that I wondered if doing ministry was worth it. 
5. When a church member to whom I’d ministered for years took his life. Suddenly, I was a failure as a pastor . . . apparently helpless to help others. 
6. When I experienced a broken marriage engagement at my initiative. In fact, I offered my resignation to the deacons since I seemingly couldn’t lead even my own life well. 

Why I Didn’t Quit:

1. God had called me to proclaim His Word. I knew how clearly He had called me to preach. I could never outrun that experience. 
2. God gave me great Christian friends. For every one person who has been difficult in ministry, I have had dozens of faithful, godly people who stood with me. The day the church member hollered at me, another church member showed up just in time to pray for me. 
3. God put a deacon in my life who challenged me to learn balance—to take care of myself. He was wise enough to know I was idolizing my work to prove my worth as a pastor. I will be forever grateful to him for loving me enough to confront me. 
4. God challenged me to renew my belief in the gospel every day—to preach the gospel to myself. As grace, mercy, and freedom became much more a reality in my life, I realized I could stand before God’s people as a man living in victory. 
5. God reminded me that He is responsible for the results. I might plant and water, but God produces the harvest. My responsibility is to trust Him with my life and the lives of people I lead. 
6. God saved somebody through my ministry. Being privileged to be part of a person’s salvation has compelled me to push through any thoughts of giving up. Even one convert can make a difference. 

Pastors, what would you add to either of these lists?