— True calling may waver in emotion, but it endures through perseverance.
📖 Summary
Even true pastors struggle with doubt and fatigue.
Some may have entered ministry for the wrong reasons,
but others who are truly called also reach breaking points.
The question is not whether one feels called,
but whether one’s faithfulness endures despite the struggle.
1️⃣ Biblical Foundation
📘 Jeremiah 20:7–9 (ESV) — Jeremiah wanted to quit but could not; God’s Word burned in his heart.
📘 John 10:11–13 (ESV) — The hired hand abandons the sheep, but the true shepherd stays.
📘 2 Timothy 4:5–7 (ESV) — “Fulfill your ministry.” Endure hardship faithfully.
📘 Romans 11:29 (ESV) — “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”
2️⃣ Theological Insight
📜 John MacArthur — Called to Lead
“God’s call is greater than human failure;
a pastor may falter, but God never abandons His servant.”
📜 R.C. Sproul — The Holiness of God
“False calling is fueled by ambition, not reverence.”
📜 John Piper — Brothers, We Are Not Professionals
“True calling is proven not by comfort, but by endurance through pain.”
📜 Jonathan Edwards — Religious Affections
“The truest mark of calling is not intensity of emotion,
but persistence in obedience.”
📜 Martyn Lloyd-Jones — Preaching and Preachers
“If you can quit the ministry and be content,
you were never truly called.”
3️⃣ Misconceptions vs Biblical Truth
| Misconception | Cause | Biblical Truth |
|---|---|---|
| “Fatigue means it wasn’t God’s call.” | Emotionalism | Jeremiah wanted to quit but couldn’t (Jer 20:9). |
| “True calling never doubts.” | Idealism | Even prophets doubted, yet obeyed. |
| “Struggles justify quitting.” | Escapism | Paul said, “Fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim 4:5). |
| “God only calls to new things.” | Pragmatism | Sometimes renewal begins in stillness, not movement. |
4️⃣ Application | When You Feel Like Quitting
1️⃣ Examine whether you’re chasing results instead of obedience.
2️⃣ Ask if the gospel still brings joy, not burden.
3️⃣ Distinguish rest from escape—rest restores, escape avoids.
4️⃣ Seek counsel from mature believers and your church community.
5️⃣ Conclusion | You Can Rest, But You Cannot Resign from Grace
Pastors may grow weary, but God’s calling does not expire.
If He truly called you, that fire will reignite through His Word.
“When you feel like quitting, God still whispers: ‘Feed my sheep.’” — Revito
Faith. Truth. Renewal. — Revito
📧 revito247@gmail.com
🌐 www.revito.co.kr
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