One of the primary reasons why we may seem to be sticking in neutral or reverse, as it pertains to doing anything worthwhile, is because we start and stop, but do not see our goals through to the very end. Whatever is worth accomplishing, whether it be in the physical or spiritual realm will have to be done consistently if success is to attend our efforts. God’s people are to be a people always on the move.
Ministries in the church often begin with a big bang, but after a while, the enthusiasm, energy, and drive often fizzles, and the good purposes that could have been accomplished in collaboration with God, often vanish into thin air. The problem, in most cases is that we started and stopped, for some reason or another.
At the beginning of every new year, resolutions are made, and we get pumped up, energized, and full of enthusiasm to start our exercise program, but that’s until about April or June, when the other issues and concerns take a toll, and before you know it we may miss one or two days, then a couple weeks, and by this time next year, our exercise regimen is entirely off the table. The problem in most cases is the start and stop syndrome.
The same phenomenon occurs with diets and food, when in the heat of the moment we take a pledge to eat right. Our freezers are emptied of forbidden things, Jenny Craig and Oprah stimulate us and we begin to see the results we once thought impossible but that’s until birthday parties, weddings and other social events come along.
Bit by bit we begin to slip up, and before you know it the twinkies, doughnuts and big mac’s beckon to us at every turn, and the diet plan which began in earnest falls flat on its face. The problem in most cases is that we started and stopped. In fact, the habit of starting and stopping is solely responsible for the overwhelming majority of failures in life, both in the spiritual and temporal realm.
The same syndrome of starting and stopping can be traced to proper spending, saving, devotional time, church building, sleeping, and almost every aspect of our living experience that requires consistency. But starting and stopping, and restarting over, and over again tends to blunt our morale over a period of time, and if we do not address this issue, we may sink down into despair over our repeated failures.
Then, the time will come when we’ll doubt our own resolve to do and dare, and before you know it, the joys of life, in accomplishing anything worthwhile, will seem more and more far-fetched. Then comes depression, regret, and a lack of will to challenge any difficult situation, or to reach for new horizons. God’s will is that a continual growth by His grace, and a forward motion in life be the purpose and the practice of His people. God not only promises a long life to those who serve Him, He also promises a long quality of life, so that we may render the best, and longest service possible, whilst we can.
But to do so we must overcome the tendency, and habit of starting and stopping. This will call for stern discipline on the part of believers, but God’s grace, when united with human effort, can accomplish a lot more than we can imagine. The motive power to continue doing that which God has instructed us to do, and anything that is worthwhile, is available to us through the power of Christ.
Yet, we should be humble and willing enough to ask God for such things as resilience, courage, fortitude, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. God never condemns us for failures, but He desires that we tap into His omnipotence, to get the energy and power to carry on. His power is promised to every believer, and may the force be with you. Let’s read:
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
There are several examples in the scriptures which demonstrate the effects of starting, and stopping, when something upright was to be achieved. As we observe these instances, let us remember that they were written for our instruction, with the hope that we would chart a right course for our feet and make any corrections where necessary.
The problem of never-ending hostilities suffered by the Hebrews was largely the result of starting, and stopping, for they began to drive out, and conquer the nations which God had given into their hands, but after a while they lost steam, got comfortable, and refused to carry God’s purpose over the finish line.
As we read, we will see that the problem of starting and stopping is pervasive, for nearly all the tribes of Israel suffered from the same syndrome. Like many of us at the beginning of the new year, they started off with a bang, but as time passed by, their energy waned, and they allowed latent foes to reside in the territories given them by God. Let’s read:
Judges 1:27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns.
28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute and did not utterly drive them out.
29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them and became tributaries.
31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
Judges 2:1 And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I swore unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spoke these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
The start and stop syndrome again affected those in the days of Haggai the prophet, for they had begun to build the temple, but just as before, they had lost steam halfway, and left off doing that which was to be accomplished. God called them back to the work for if He had not intervened, it would have been left to ruins. Let’s read:
Haggai 1:2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, this people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.
However, the habit of starting and stopping can be overcome, just like any other tendency, because the grace of Christ in the soul is available and is given to those who ask, so that we may live victoriously. The Bible gives us very helpful hints, and instructions so that we may kick the habit of starting and stopping once and for all. The following are some helpful hints.
[1] Find out from the scriptures whether the goal is worthwhile and upright.
Deuteronomy 5:33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land.
Deuteronomy 6:18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee.
Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
[2] Take The matter to The Lord in prayer.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
[3] Sit down and count the cost soberly, and practically.
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
[4] Make a pledge to God and to yourself.
2nd Timothy 1:12 I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error.
[5] Renew your commitment, and strength daily by tapping into God’s omnipotent power.
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Will power, resilience, fortitude and courage are all characteristics that are found in Christ, and thus, as Christians, we are to be beneficiaries of both His power and character. If we desire something good, we will have to ask for it, for God will not intrude on our freedom of choice arbitrarily. There are things in the spiritual realm that are given only in response to fervent prayer. Let’s read:
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Be not motivated by mere feelings, because feelings often fluctuate and vanish, so that the promises and pledges that were made in the heat of the moment, fall flat when the euphoria of the moment is gone. A well-thought out plan, together with the cost of implementation must be made before even thinking about beginning anything worthwhile.
Especially is this true when it comes to serving God. for The Lord cannot work through instrumentalities who cannot be depended upon, or who will allow His service to be left up to chance or feeling. When doing ministry, there are days when we will not feel good, and at other times we may get discouraged. God’s work has to continue uninterrupted, when we feel good and when we feel bad.
On several different occasions Moses and Aaron were threatened with stoning, the people accused them of things they never did, and put their actions and intentions in a false light. But at every turn, we read that they fell upon their faces before the Lord, meaning that they sought both the power, and will to carry on from God.
Serving God faithfully and consistently, even when the going gets rough will develop a soldier-like form of thinking, which is ready to fight the good fight of faith, on sunny days, and rainy days. This in turn will develop a character of consistency that will in most cases, run as a golden thread throughout the fabric of our experience. Let’s read:
Exodus 17:3 And the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
Acts 5:40 And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Again, the recuperation time after hiccups should be as short as possible, with the end goal always in mind. There will be times when it may be virtually impossible to be consistent for a while, such times as when sickness, disability, injuries, or some other emergency may put us on hold for a period of time. But if the goal is worthy, we should be back in the game as soon as possible.
Sustainability in achieving worthy objectives over the long haul will call for sacrifice and discipline and therefore, we should take all the necessary time to roll the plans over in our minds, taking them to The Lord in prayer. Then, if He gives us the go-ahead, we should humbly ask Him for will-power and energy to sustain the venture over many years, as the case might be.
In closing, let none of us faint or be weary in well-doing for in due time we will reap if we faint not. Even though we may have started and stopped over and over again, remember that the battle will only be lost if we refuse to try again. The righteous falls seven times, but he doesn’t stay down, he gets back up again and fights relentlessly until he is victorious.
We therefore end with two passages of scripture that will greatly help us in overcoming the start and stop syndrome. Let’s read:
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Ecclesiastes 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
God Bless!