Jesus, Adulting, and Wanting to Quit (How Faith Holds Up When Life Feels Overwhelming)
There’s a moment — usually around the third load of laundry or the fifth email marked “urgent” — when it hits you: This is it. This is adulthood. And some days, it feels less like conquering mountains and more like trying to climb out of quicksand with a half-broken ladder.
I don’t know about you, but I always thought adulthood would feel a little more triumphant. Like I’d wake up one morning, feel important, feel capable, and maybe have a few inspirational quotes framed above my desk for good measure. Instead, real adulting has often looked more like sitting in my car after a long day, forehead against the steering wheel, whispering, “Lord, I know You’re here…could You maybe get me outta this? I think I’m done for today.” Nothing cynical or permanent, but that “I’m done” feeling.
That’s the part no one talks about enough — the wanting to quit. The quiet, gnawing feeling that maybe you’re just not cut out for this… whatever “this” is for you.
It creeps in after the second failed job interview, the unexpected medical bill, the moment you realize grocery shopping is somehow both necessary and soul-crushing. It settles heavy on your chest when you pray and pray and still can’t seem to move the mountains in front of you. It’s the silent battle that whispers, “Maybe you should just give up.”
And if you’ve ever felt that way — truly overwhelmed, truly worn thin — I need you to hear this: You are not broken. You are not faithless. You are not alone.
Faith Doesn’t Erase the Hard — It Holds You Through It
When I first started walking seriously with God, I thought faith would feel like armor — sleek, shiny, invincible. What it actually feels like, most days, is a well-worn hiking pack: heavy on your back, full of everything you need, but still requiring one foot in front of the other. Faith doesn’t make you immune to life or exhaustion. It does, however, anchor you through it.
Look at Elijah — the prophet who called down fire from heaven (pretty solid résumé). Right after his biggest “success,” he spiraled into despair and told God he wanted to die (1 Kings 19). This wasn’t a man who didn’t love God. This was a man who was overwhelmed, exhausted, and human. And what did God do? He didn’t lecture Elijah. He didn’t say, “Where’s your faith? How dare you question me!” No. God gave him rest. Food. Quiet. The original “You’re not you when your hungry.” Then He met with him — not in the fire or earthquake, but in a gentle whisper.
When life feels too heavy, God’s response isn’t shame. It’s presence.
Adulting Isn’t About Arriving — It’s About Abiding
One of the cruel myths of growing up is that someday, you’ll “arrive.” You’ll figure it all out. You’ll never doubt yourself. You’ll finally feel like you’re living in a movie montage, all momentum and golden light.
But real adulthood — the kind rooted in faith — doesn’t look like arrival. It looks like abiding.
John 15:5 says it this way: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV)
Notice the instruction isn’t “arrive.” It’s “remain.” Remain when you’re tired. Remain when you’re frustrated. Remain when the only thing you can feel is disappointment.
Adulting, in its holiest form, is learning to stay connected to Jesus — not because it always feels inspiring, but because it’s the only way you survive the mess and build something that actually lasts.
When You Want to Quit — What You’re Actually Craving Is Hope
Underneath the exhaustion, underneath the overwhelm, there’s a deeper ache: hope.
Hope that it’s worth it.
Hope that it’s not always going to feel this hard.
Hope that your tiny acts of faithfulness are doing more than just filling your calendar.
And here’s the beautiful thing: You don’t have to manufacture that hope on your own. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)
You’re not being asked to dredge up hope from an empty well. God Himself — the very source of hope — is offering to fill you. Even here. Even now.
Small Steps That Keep You Moving
You don’t have to fix everything today. You don’t need to conquer adulthood in one heroic leap. Most of the time, it’s the small, stubborn steps that carry you forward. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s where you can start:
- Pray First, Even If It’s Messy
You don’t need a perfect prayer. You don’t even need the right words. Romans 8:26 reminds us that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” and “intercedes for us through wordless groans.” When you feel like quitting, your first move isn’t to fix the situation—it’s to fall into prayer, however imperfect it sounds or you have no idea how to start. God’s listening to your heart. - Anchor Yourself to One True Thing
When everything feels shaky, grab onto one truth from Scripture and hold on. Maybe it’s Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Write it down. Say it out loud. Let it become louder than the doubts. - Take the Next Tiny Step
Not the next ten steps. Just the next one. Maybe it’s washing the dishes. Maybe it’s texting a friend and asking for prayer. Maybe it’s opening your Bible even if you don’t feel anything when you do. Proverbs 3:5-6 doesn’t tell us to sprint the whole race—it tells us to trust in the Lord with all your heart and submit to Him step by step. - Let Someone Else Carry It With You
Isolation will lie to you and tell you no one else gets it. That you’re bothering people. That you’re too much. Those are not God’s words. Galatians 6:2 calls us to “carry each other’s burdens.” You weren’t designed to survive hard seasons alone. Reach out to someone you trust, even if your voice shakes. - Give Yourself Permission to Rest, Not Quit
Even Jesus rested. Even God modeled Sabbath for us after creation. Resting isn’t weakness—it’s obedience. Matthew 11:28 still stands: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” You are allowed to pause. You are allowed to breathe. You are allowed to rest. You are not allowed to believe the lie that you’re failing by needing it.
Don’t Quit the Life You’re Still Growing Into
Maybe today, all you’ve got is enough energy to whisper one broken prayer. Maybe all you can manage is to get out of bed, answer two emails, and cry in the car. That’s not failure. That’s life. And God is not disappointed in your exhaustion. He’s in it with you.
Adulting isn’t about doing everything right all the time. It’s about showing up with your imperfect, unfinished, overwhelmed self — and trusting that God’s still working that plan of His in you.
So if you feel like quitting? Rest if you need to. Cry if you have to. But don’t quit.
The life you’re building — one faithful, stubborn, stumbling step at a time — is worth it. Even if you can’t see it, with God as your guide, you’re already farther along than you think.
☕ A little faith, a little courage, and a whole lot of stubborn joy. – Tonya
What’s one thing you do when you feel like quitting? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear how you’re finding your way forward.
© 2025 All posts written by Tonya E. Lee
