How to Stop Quitting Before You Finish

Hey, if you're reading this while avoiding that one thing you're supposed to be doing that you said you wanted to do, congratulations! You're my target demographic! Today, we're gonna be talking about being a finisher. Someone who starts something and then finishes it, follows through with it, and maintains it.

Now, I can think of several times in my life that I started something but didn't keep it going. I started writing a couple stories, I started taking dance lessons and guitar lessons, but I stopped short and did not continue with those things to the extent that I originally wanted. And one thing I want to do is change that habit. I don't want to be the guy that starts a project and then gives up halfway. I want to be a finisher. And not just with finishing projects, I want to follow through on commitments I make. I want to be a person of my word. And I have a feeling that you do as well. 

Now, I don't want this to be a legalistic thing by any means. Not everything needs 100% dedication. And it's not like if you're a non-committal person that you're in sin or a bad Christian. It just means that nobody's actually gonna like you. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But I do believe that being a finisher can greatly help you in life. What are the benefits, you ask?

Well, for one, people tend to trust a finisher. People like someone they can depend on. And if you're someone that follows through on their word, people will pick up on that and trust you. It'll help you move along in life. 

Secondly, a committed mindset forces you to be intentional. It forces you to be organized, forces you to plan things out and put reminders. It helps you say no, and it helps you keep track of things. You become dependable when you're setting appointments. You learn to become a clear communicator. And that just makes a world of a difference to the people around you. 

Thirdly, completing something just feels good. I mean, have you ever felt great after starting something and not following through on it? I mean, I haven't. It's just so satisfying when you set a goal and you can check off that it was completed. 

And then finally, being a finisher can help your own character and endurance for the hard and difficult seasons in life. Look at what scripture says. 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4)." 

So if your immediate impulse when things get hard is to quit, you're gonna miss out on the value of perseverance. But when you go through the fire and stand firm, you come out stronger. Commitment and character reap rewards. It's just inevitable. 

So what I've outlined here is a roadmap for becoming a finisher. And the roadmap has three steps. 

The first step, when you start a project, be it creative writing, learning a skill, attending a weekly club or whatnot, you have to ask yourself whether this is a pursuit worth following. Is it important? Yes or no? If it is, then make it a priority. And if it's not important enough to be a priority, then don't burden yourself with it. I mean, these are all really good questions to pray about and figure out with God. And let's be real, you can't do it all. There are multiple things that are really good to prioritize, but you're only human. So you're going to have to say no to some good things, and yes to some better things. Ask God to help you out, and go with what you're realistically able to accomplish. And if you don't have the motivation to do something, you don't always have to pressure or guilt yourself. Sometimes it's okay to put something on the back burner until God gives you the grace to accomplish it. 

Now, I've been mentioning God quite a bit here. Finding out God's will can be a tricky endeavor.” It's good to pray about your decisions and take some quiet time to listen. I believe the Holy Spirit can give us promptings and guidance when we seek out His wisdom. However, I think it's also important to distinguish the guidance of the Holy Spirit from the command of the Holy Spirit. What God has commanded us to do is in the Bible. That's what's spiritually and morally binding on us as believers. But how we choose to serve God or create things is a matter of free will. Just because the Holy Spirit can help and guide us in our endeavor doesn't mean, generally speaking, that God has commanded that endeavor. 

There are some exceptions, of course. We know that God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh because he was called to be a prophet by God. However, for most of us ordinary people, I think that what we do for God is largely up to free will. There's room for trial and error, and I just think that's a beautiful thing. I think oftentimes we want God to tell us to go to Nineveh, but the beauty in being a child of God is that God will often wait for us to make our own decision. Now, of course, we need God to bless our decision. We don't want to do something on a whim. However, God does give his children a lot of choices. He may not always give us a clear direction on what to do and where to go, and sometimes we just got to make a decision, take a chance, and see where that decision leads us. God can confirm whether he is for it or against it. We just got to stay humble, surrendered, and teachable. We just got to be childlike in our approach. And then even if we see God's blessing on a decision, it doesn't always mean we should feel guilt and pressure to continue in that decision if we decide to go a different route later on. 

Okay, so I know that was quite a side tangent, but it was important. So to summarize step one, prayerfully consider and decide the project you want to prioritize and undertake. 

Step two, when you've decided what you want to do, you need to make a plan. What will this commitment take? Where and when will you work on it? For how long? How many days in a week? Is there an end date? Or will this go on indefinitely until God tells you to stop? Then you can write out a schedule and then set reminders, events, and alarms on your phone or calendar so you can keep track of everything.” Now, in general, you have to be quick as far as scheduling and writing out your plans. Don't make or agree to a plan without first checking your calendar and writing it down. If you don't keep track of things, you're going to forget and get thrown off course. 

The principle in general can also apply to group activities. So let's say there's this club that you've wanted to attend on Tuesday nights, but you can't attend because of your work schedule. And then one day, you get approved to change your shift at work and your Tuesday nights are free. Now, when that happens, that is the moment when you take action. Make a plan, make a commitment to start attending that club and write it down, because I'm telling you, if you don't make a strong commitment, things are gonna pop up that are gonna try and steal your attention away. Decide what's important to you and be dedicated to it. And hey, maybe you actually want your Tuesday nights to be free. Maybe you don't wanna tie yourself down to a commitment, so that way you have some more levity to do what you want. That's perfectly fine. But still, be intentional when you make any decision like that. 

And then step three, you need to find ways to make your project enjoyable, because misery is not a recipe for long-term sustainability. So, for example, I don't enjoy writing when I'm at home. However, if I go out to a public place or do a study hall with my friends, I'm a lot more motivated to write. Another thing that helps me out is accountability. Every day, I message a friend of mine what my goals are for that day, and then the next day, I have to tell him whether or not I met them. Having someone there to witness the accomplishment of your goals can be very motivating and rewarding. As a matter of fact, I've been able to sustain a habit for over two years straight because of accountability. So, for you, you need to figure out what's gonna make your project more enjoyable. What's gonna keep you motivated? Try different things out and see where they take you.

So, there you have it. A three-step roadmap to becoming a finisher. But of course, there are some important questions to consider. Like, what if I just lose my passion and motivation for what I want to do? I was excited about learning how to code, but now coding has become hard. It's become a chore. How do I know when it's time to quit or give up on a project? Well, in response to that, I think there are three things to consider. 

First, difficulty is not a bad thing. Think of it like lifting weights. When you go to the gym to work out, you need some resistance. You need some weight to push or pull against. That's what strengthens you. So could the difficulty you're facing be an opportunity for you to build strength, resilience, and growth? If so, it may be worth it to endure some discomfort. 

But the second possibility is that you're trying to lift too much weight. Are you putting unreasonable burdens and expectations on yourself? You don't have to. Make the project easy, make the project fun. There will come a time for you to grow and add resistance, but now may not be the time, so take it slow. 

And then the third possibility is that it may actually be time to quit. If your project is crushing you rather than challenging you, if there's just no passion and it's affecting you negatively, if there's something better you can be doing, or maybe you just want your free time back, then there's no shame in throwing in the towel. Don't guilt yourself into maintaining misery. Now, the exception, of course, is if it's a moral obligation that God has commanded you to endure, like staying in a marriage, you know, with someone you've actually married, or caring for your children. But if there's no moral obligation, then, generally speaking, I think you have some freedom. 

And then, remember, there's nothing wrong if you simply need a cheat day or a break from something. I remember one time I was on this pretty strict diet. I was at a gathering and someone had brought cake because it was my birthday. And man oh man, did I feel the tension rise within me. Was I gonna stick to my diet, or was I gonna enjoy a nice dessert with my friends to celebrate my own birthday? I decided to eat some cake and I do not regret doing so. I mean, it wasn't gonna kill me that one time. Having a committed mindset does not mean torturing yourself. Just have a plan to get back into your routine after you decide to take a break. Cheat days can be destructive if they're taken without any thought or plan for getting back on course. Now, of course, there are some things that you simply cannot cheat at, or it's gonna ruin you. If you're a recovering alcoholic, then taking that one sip of alcohol can lead you to destruction. It's not worth it no matter how torturous sobriety is. And while I'm not an alcoholic, there are some habits that I simply will not compromise on, because I know that if I break my streak, that will lead me toward destruction. So you just need to know your own limits. 

And I think the Bible summarizes this topic pretty well. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1,5-7 NIV)."

So, all in all, what I hope this article has given you is some structure and guidance. Some of this may have been stuff you've already known, and some of it may not have been. But at least now, you have a road map, so you have some kind of framework to work out of. 

Identify what you want to do, make a plan for doing it, and then figure out ways to make it enjoyable.

I pray this framework gives you clarity as you pursue your calling and your purpose. May the Lord bless you, and all praise, all honor, all glory be to God forever, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, amen and amen!

Photo by Mārtiņš Zemlickis on Unsplash

3 Takeaways from the Life of Charlie Kirk

Image by Gage Skidmore

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September 10, 2025. I still remember where I was when I heard the news: "Charlie Kirk got shot." When he died, I was stunned. Like, I could not believe what had just happened. Charlie Kirk? Assassinated? At 31 years old? That stuff is not supposed to happen. My brother in Christ was taken from me! He was taken from his wife and kids. He was taken from everybody who loved him and looked up to him. That hurt. It still hurts. I had only seen Charlie Kirk live on two occasions. And it was enough to let me know that this man loved Jesus. It wasn't just about politics for him. He took his faith seriously. And it left me wondering: how could something so horrible happen? 

This is not the kind of thing I even want to talk about. I'm not super into the online political world. And I don't even know that I've fully processed Charlie's death. But I don’t have to feel qualified to step up and do what I need to. God gave me a voice and I have something to say. And what I want to share are three ways this tragedy is changing me and growing me. 

The first thing is remembering that I lost a fellow believer. Charlie was my brother in Christ. I didn’t know him. But I didn’t have to. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV).” Those who have put their faith in Christ are part of one family. And it's so easy to lose sight of that. It’s so easy to have looked at Charlie when he was alive and thought, “This is just a rich, conservative celebrity.” No! Charlie was a human being, just like everybody else! 

Regardless of how famous a Christian is, they are still our brother/sister in the Lord. And if we remembered that, think how our conversations would change. We would remember to love somebody like Charlie. We would pray for them and show them honor when we spoke about them. We might celebrate the work they’re doing for the Kingdom of God. And even if we can’t celebrate what they’re doing... Even if we have valid criticisms and concerns, we still remember that we are on the same team at the end of the day. We remember to show forbearance. 

The second thing I realized after Charlie died was the importance of his mission. Obviously, he was a political figure. And I'll be honest with you: I’ve generally tried to stay away from the political discussions that happen online. I feel like they easily breed emotions of anger, toxicity, vilifying people, etc. Politics essentially turns into entertainment: a way for me to root for my favorite sports team in a sense. But at a fundamental level, political conversations need to be had. I don’t feel Christians do the Church any favors by shying away or fading into neutrality when it’s time to speak up on an important moral and political issue. Lives are at stake. Unborn lives are at stake. Children’s lives are at stake. The wellbeing of humanity is at stake. 

Now let me be clear: I am not a fan of a lot of the popular conservative figures on the internet. I feel like, in large part, they’ve created a culture that is not Christian. A culture that is not loving, not gracious, and I don't want my own spirit to become affected. It's very hard to find people who do politics and Christianity well. Charlie Kirk himself was not perfect. I don't think he always created the most Christ-like culture when he spoke and hosted his events. However, he did do a lot of good. He did bring Jesus into the conversation. He wasn’t ashamed to talk about his faith. And I’d love to see more of that in the conservative world. Not just saying you’re a Christian, but actually representing Christ in the way you speak and behave. 

Oftentimes, politics takes the place of a genuine love for Christ, and I think Charlie was one of the few exceptions. Because of him, I’m reminded that political conversations do matter. And just because political conversations get handled the wrong way, with insulting; biting; slander; etc., doesn't mean that a political conversation can never be handled the right way. Maybe you and I can be the exception! We don’t avoid the hard political conversations. But have those conversations in a Christ-like manner. With temperament, humility, reason, meekness, love. I know the rhetoric of some is that if we’re not aggressive, we’re not gonna win anything. I want to challenge that notion. If we’re relying on aggression, then we’re turning to the flesh rather than turning to God. God is all powerful. He can shift the atmosphere. He can change hearts and minds. When we try to use aggressive, fleshly, worldly tactics to win arguments, we’re trying to play God and that’s a dangerous place to be. 

Our job as Christians is to speak the truth in love and conviction, and then leave God to do the rest. “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:5–7 ESV).”

And then finally, I believe that Charlie’s passing should be our inspiration to pick up his torch, step up, and press into the calling God has placed on our lives! What is God calling you to do? Is he calling you to speak? Share the gospel? Serve? Create content? Go on mission? Be bold and do something for God! Don’t cower in fear. And I know you feel unqualified. I feel unqualified. We’re both unqualified. But check this out: Jesus once did a crazy miracle. Simon Peter saw it and said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” But Jesus replies, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:8,10 ESV).” 

I want you to hear Jesus saying to you: Do not be afraid! God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies those calls. And obviously, don’t just do something on a whim. Give it prayer and consideration. Ask God how He wants to use you and listen for what He says. God might give you an assignment. He might stir some passion within you. Or He might even convict you to just deal with some sin in your own life. 

But sometimes, He might not give you a clear instruction and you gotta just take a chance. Sometimes, you just gotta make a decision and see where it leads you. If God is with you, He can confirm that. And if God is not in favor of what you’re doing, He can show you that as well. Just stay humble, surrendered, and teachable. But don’t be paralyzed. Don’t fall into the paralysis by analysis. 

I’m sure Charlie Kirk had his own doubts and qualms. But at the end of the day, he decided to stake a stand for what is right. He made a few mistakes. He was learning and growing, just like you and I are. But ultimately, we remember Charlie for his faith and the fight he fought for the truth. So let’s have that same vigor!

Remember that your fellow believers are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember not to shy away from speaking the truth in love on the hard political topics. And remember to take a stand and start doing something for God! May the Lord bless you, and all praise, all honor, all glory be to God forever in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen and amen!

Your Friendships Need These 3 Things

Proverbs 27:17 NIV

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

The Bible is clear: as the body of Christ, we Christians need healthy relationships and friendships with one another. But how do we foster those connections? 

If there’s one thing that’s impacted my life positively as Christian, it’s been the relationships I’ve built with other believers who are serious about their faith in the Lord. 

But what I’ve found is that strong friendships don’t happen by accident. It’s like a fire. A single spark can get a fire started, but the flame is gonna die out if you don’t keep feeding it. Likewise, even if you come across the perfect friend, the connection between you two can fizzle out if you don’t consciously work to maintain it. 

So what I’ve outlined here are three ingredients that I feel are essential for fostering a good Christian friendship. There are: intentionality, authenticity, and audacity. 

Let’s start with the first one: intentionality. Here’s the sad news: you can’t be close friends with everybody. There’s a lot of cool people out there, but there’s only so many hours in a day. And only so many days in a week. You need to prayerfully consider which relationships you want to prioritize. Think about the people that are: 

A) Earnestly pursuing Christ, and 

B) Willing to invest their time into you.  

Then level set with them. “Hey, I’d like to call you or meet up with you at least once a week.” I think once a week is a healthy recurring timeframe for staying connected with someone, but it’s not a strict rule. 

However, Scripture says: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13 ESV).”

If we're not exhorting one another, our hearts can get hardened. So consistency in how often we meet with someone is going to breed results. You can set something like a weekly reminder on your phone or calendar to have some kind of interaction. Do whatever you need to to connect with your fellow believer on some kind of regular basis. 

Next, you want to incorporate both fun and accountability in the relationship. Friendships should be fun, in that you’re doing something you both enjoy or having a conversation you both enjoy. But you also want to include a level of accountability, in that you both stir one another on to live in a way that glorifies Jesus Christ. 

A balance of both fun and accountability should be in your relationship. Some interactions are going to be lighthearted and easygoing. Others are going to be more heartfelt and serious. You don't want to overemphasize one kind of interaction to the exclusion of the other. 

Now the final two ingredients of a good friendship, authenticity and audacity, are going to be related to how we hold one another spiritually accountable. 

Let's look at authenticity. Scripture says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16 NIV).”

You gotta be real. A good friend should be someone you can trust enough to confess your sins to. You don't want someone who will condemn you when you confess to them, and you also don't want someone who will dismiss your sins as no big deal. Instead, you want someone who will empathize with you, encourage you and pray for you to become better. 

And this doesn't have to just stop at sins. You should be able to talk and support each other through general burdens and emotional hurdles. But don't turn this into an opportunity for gossip and whining. Scripture says: “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Proverbs 29:11 NIV).”

I think there's a healthy way to complain that is humble. In that you admit you feel bad because of a situation or something someone did, but you also have a desire to forgive or get your heart in the right place. This is another opportunity for your friend to offer prayer and encouragement to you. You want to be able to express frustration, but you don't want your friend to enable the sinful tendencies that come with it, like gossip, insulting, overcriticizing, swearing, etc. 

Finally, a good friendship needs a level of audacity. What I mean by audacity is the willingness to speak the truth to someone in a way that is clear. This does not mean that you're harsh and hurtful with your words, but that you kindly tell the person what they need to hear for their own wellbeing. Scripture says: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2 NIV).” 

I think too often, we avoid confronting people because we don't want to hurt their feelings. But if we're honest, we're really just trying to protect ourselves a lot of the time. It takes a selfless heart of love to be willing to tell someone the truth. If we consider someone a dear friend, don't we want to love them like that? They might take your feedback well. Or they may not. You're not trying to control or change them. But God can use your words to help them. Or sometimes, God can make it so you're the one who ends up learning and growing from the interaction. 

Whatever the case may be, your friend needs your audacity. They also need your authenticity and intentionality. And you need theirs. I know relationships are not always easy. But they are worth it. And so, I'll leave you with this last bit of encouragement:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 NIV).”

God bless you, and all praise, all honor, all glory be to God forever in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen and amen!