Dancing in Freedom of Grace by Pete BriscoeSample

Calling It Quits

Love is a perilous dance too, you see. And if we stop dancing, we’ll die. Don’t ever stop dancing. —Kate Avery Ellison

Marching has its purposes in the military and in bands, but in Christianity it can wreck you. It saps your joy, it steals your energy, and it slays your passion for Jesus. And sooner or later, it’s bound to burn you out, blister your feet, and bore you to death with its monotony.

Ready for an honorable discharge? Here’s how:

Recognize your need and your brokenness. Cry out to Him in honesty from a heart that is tired and desperate for the real thing.

Reject your flesh, along with its self-righteous methods, standards, systems, and devotion to programs.

Realize your hopelessness. Stop trying. Stop working. Stop striving. You might need to quit the committees and ditch duties. Just stop and let Him know that you know all your efforts are hopeless.

Rest in His finished work. Not just His crucifixion on the cross, but His resurrection from the grave. The crucifixion made it possible for your sins to be removed. The resurrection made it possible for you to find new life, to be a new creation. All that work was done on your behalf. It is finished.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Listen, it takes courage to break ranks with those who are marching for God. You have to be a real fool to enter into the dance with Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 4:10). It’s going to feel awkward and maybe even scary. But the joy is worth it, every misstep of the way.

Okay, Lord, You win. I’m calling it quits. I surrender. I’m tired of performing. I’m tired of conforming. I’m broken, hopeless, and exhausted. I’m done with the march. I want to rest in You as You lead me in the dance of grace. Amen.