Matthew 24:10&12 ¹⁰ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another… ¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Introduction: The Quitting Point

A quitting point is that moment when we reach the threshold of physical, emotional, or mental pain, and our systems begin to shut down. We all have one. Some reach it sooner than others, but everyone has a point where the pressure, frustration, or discouragement feels overwhelming.

What separates those who succeed from those who fail is the ability to break through that quitting point. But what does it really mean to break through? It means refusing to allow pain, doubt, or exhaustion to dictate your actions. It means choosing faith over feelings, perseverance over convenience, and the power of God over the pressures of life. Breaking through a quitting point isn’t just about enduring hardship—it’s about overcoming it

Illustration: Consider an athlete training for a marathon. At mile 20, their legs feel like lead, their lungs burn, and their mind screams at them to stop. This is the infamous “wall” that runners talk about—a moment when everything in their body tells them they can’t go on. But the champions press through. They dig deep, refocus their mind, and push forward until they reach the finish line.

Spiritually, we face the same kind of moments. The enemy is strategic. He knows where you are weak. He knows your history and your habits. He knows exactly where to hit you to make you feel like giving up. And often, he doesn’t mind if you still go to church as long as you have quit trying to be effective in your walk with God. But just like the runner who breaks through the wall to finish their race, you must break through your quitting point and press on toward the high calling of God (Philippians 3:14).

Causes of Quitting Points

Many things can cause us to reach a quitting point. Here are just a few:

• Low tolerance for problems or pain – Some people never develop the ability to withstand challenges.
• Past habits – If quitting has been a pattern in your life, it becomes the automatic response when things get hard.
• Predetermined expectations – We often assume things should be easier, and when they’re not, we’re tempted to walk away.

The real question is: What is the threshold of your quitting point? Whether it’s a marriage, a friendship, a calling, or your faith, what does it take to make you walk away? We here today understand that trials are part of the refining process, and enduring hardship strengthens our reliance on Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Quitting Points

One of the greatest examples of someone in the Bible who pushed past a quitting point is the Apostle Paul. His life was filled with obstacles that would have made many people quit, yet he pressed forward with relentless faith and unwavering commitment to his calling.

Paul faced unimaginable hardships for the sake of the Gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, he describes some of the trials he endured:

• Imprisoned frequently
• Beaten times without number
• Five times received 39 lashes from the Jews
• Three times beaten with rods
• Stoned and left for dead
• Shipwrecked three times
• A night and a day in the deep
• Constant dangers from robbers, his own countrymen, and false brethren
• Hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness
• The daily pressure of caring for the churches

If anyone had a legitimate reason to quit, it was Paul! But he refused. Why? Because his purpose was greater than his pain.

Paul’s Breakthrough Moment

One of Paul’s most remarkable breakthroughs happened in Acts 14:19-20. In Lystra, Paul was preaching when an angry mob stoned him and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. Imagine the pain and exhaustion of being pelted with stones to the point where people thought he was lifeless! That was a quitting point if there ever was one.

But Paul got back up.

Instead of quitting, he walked right back into the city and continued preaching the Gospel. He didn’t let pain, rejection, or persecution stop him. He broke through his quitting point and continued to spread the message of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s life teaches us that breaking through a quitting point means pressing on when everything inside us says to stop. It means understanding that suffering is temporary, but the reward of obedience to God is eternal.

In Philippians 3:14, Paul gives us his mindset:

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Like Paul, we must fix our eyes on eternity and refuse to quit, knowing that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

No matter what quitting point you face—whether it’s spiritual exhaustion, rejection, financial hardship, or discouragement—God calls you to stand back up, walk back into your calling, and keep going. Your breakthrough is on the other side of perseverance!

Breaking Through Requires Character

Hebrews 10:36 – “For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”

One of the greatest measures of a person is what it takes to get them to bail out of a commitment. A person of weak character will quit at the first sign of adversity, but a person of strong character will endure hardship and come out stronger on the other side.

Illustration: The Navy SEALs have a brutal training program called “Hell Week.” During this time, candidates face extreme exhaustion, hunger, and cold. Many quit. But those who push through learn that their minds can endure far more than they thought possible. The same principle applies spiritually. You may feel like giving up, but if you push through in prayer, fasting, and faith, you’ll find strength you never knew you had.

Character is built in adversity. It does not come cheap. But without character, you will never be able to handle the blessings and success God wants to bring into your life. The Apostles endured persecution, imprisonment, and even death because they were filled with the Holy Ghost and anchored in their commitment to Jesus' Name.

The Way You See the World Matters

Matthew 6:22 – “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.”

How you view the world around you affects your thoughts, and your thoughts affect your soul. If you see every challenge as an impossible obstacle, you will live in defeat. But if you see challenges as opportunities for God to show His power, you will live in victory.

Illustration: Two shoe salesmen were sent to a remote village. One wrote back, “No one wears shoes here—there’s no market for us.” The other wrote back, “No one wears shoes here—huge potential!” The difference was in their perspective. Likewise, when a trial comes, do you see it as a stumbling block or as an opportunity for God to reveal His glory in your life?

Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 – “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.”

Your heart is the source of your spiritual life. What you feed it will determine how strong you are in the face of adversity. The Bible calls this treasure-building. Fill your heart with God’s Word, with testimonies of His faithfulness, and with faith-filled relationships.

If you don’t guard your heart, the enemy will fill it with doubt, discouragement, and fear. But if you strengthen your heart with faith, fasting, prayer, and perseverance, you’ll develop the resilience to break through quitting points.

Redefining Your Challenges

One of the keys to breaking through quitting points is to define things the way God defines them. David’s confrontation with Goliath is a great example of this.

• The Israelites saw Goliath as an unbeatable enemy.
• David saw Goliath as an opportunity for God to be glorified.

Between every event in your life and your attitude concerning that event lies your definition of that event. If you define a hardship as a reason to quit, you will quit. But if you define it as a reason to trust God, you will overcome.

Every time you break through something that has stopped you in the past, you are disarming your enemy. Why would Satan try to use something against you that he knows doesn’t work? Every breakthrough is a disarming of our enemy! The People of God walk in authority, knowing that no weapon formed against them will prosper when they stand on the Word of God.

Your Attitude Matters

Your behavior can mess up your life outside of church, but your attitude can mess up your life inside the Father’s house. Both are devastating.

Too many people suffer from an attitude trained by their circumstances rather than by the Spirit of God. If your attitude is always shaped by hardship, then hardship will always control your life. But if your attitude is shaped by God’s promises, then victory will define your life.

• We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). 
• Our emotions must be submitted to the authority of the Word. 
• We are not victims; we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37)!

Conclusion: What Will You Do?

Breaking through quitting points is not easy. But it is necessary if you want to fulfill your calling and make a difference in God’s Kingdom.

• Are you willing to redefine your struggles?
• Are you willing to develop character that refuses to quit?
• Are you willing to guard your heart and adjust your perspective?

If you are, then nothing will be able to stop you. Every time you refuse to quit, you are declaring to the enemy that he no longer has control over your life.

So today, I challenge you: Break through your quitting points. Push past the place where you used to give up. Because on the other side of that quitting point is victory, destiny, and a life that brings glory to Jesus' Name. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11), and through His power, you can overcome anything!