Should I Stay or Should I Go?

In the Spring of 2015 I sat in the comfortable office of a man who would become one of my spiritual fathers. I’d scheduled the meeting with Pastor Dale Dailey because God had called me into the greatest transition since giving my soul to Jesus, marrying my beautiful wife, and having kids. When God said, “Preach My Word,” everything shifted and I needed to know, should I stay or should I go? in several areas of my life.

Pastor Dale grabbed a book which was already on his desk. As he opened it, I saw highlighted and underlined sections as well as notes in the margins. In his booming voice, the man of God read from Edwin Louis Cole’s Never Quit.

Pastor Dale gave me a copy of the book when our meeting was finished. Since reading it, I’ve learned leaving a situation and entering a new one is a regular occurrence in life (for some of us more than others!). Navigating transitions well leads to great things, so we don’t have to keep learning from the same old mistakes. In chapter 6 of his book, Ed Cole shares some principles we can keep in mind to help navigate change in a healthy and Godly way.

The Process of Leaving and Entering Well

The God-given pattern of entering and leaving has ten steps that can help pull you through the crisis of change. If you have just left a job, were
fired, resigned, left a church or ministry, broke an engagement, started a new career, found the one to marry, moved to another city, started college or found yourself in a different situation, you can do these steps. Do them in every succeeding stage of your life to help make your adjustments smooth.

1. Realize that crisis is normal.
The first thing you need to understand is that crisis is normal to life.
God is bringing you out of a temporary state to take you into a higher, more permanent state of living.

2. Follow the Lord’s pattern: Forgive.
Forgiveness is always a gift. Forgiveness can never be earned.
It can only be given as is God’s forgiveness to us.

3. Admit that God is your source.
Recognize that if you have committed your life to Christ, He–not man–is in control of all you submit and commit to Him.
“The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” is a biblical truth.

4. Don’t panic.
When fired from a job, preparing for marriage or in any crisis, you need to ward off the stress that pressures you into panic. Panic and productivity are opposites. Panic is always counterproductive.

5. Admit God’s sovereignty.
Admit the fact that God has the sovereign right to your life and He can overrule anything and everything in it.
God will work only with what we give Him. Give Him all the hurts, rejection, failure and humiliation, so He can turn them around.

6. Don’t limit God.
God is a creative God.
God puts no limits on faith. Faith puts no limits on God. God can create something out of what seems like nothing.

7. Humble yourself to obey God.
Some people cannot admit they are wrong, and others cannot stand to be wronged. Both have difficulties serving God.
Humbling precedes blessing. “If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up.”

8. Trust God to vindicate you.
If dealt with unjustly at the time of leaving, don’t return evil for evil. When persecuted, don’t seek to retaliate. Rather, pray for those who mistreat you and trust God for your vindication.
No matter what happens, God is able to deal justly with our oppressors. If you try to vindicate yourself, you will do so at your own expense. Holding self in check, waiting on God, renews your strength and builds your character.

9. Communicate.
Don’t stop communicating, either with people or with God. Don’t cut yourself off by isolating yourself. Loneliness and isolation will only pervert your thinking. Keep your balance by continuing to interact normally while undergoing crisis.
In short, communicate everything to God but only what uplifts to others.

10. Act on principle.
Do something! Do it in faith.
Get your guidance from principles of truth, not from reaction to the feelings of the moment. Act on principles, not emotions.
God’s Word is your blueprint for success. Don’t be tossed to and fro by every whim, personality, feeling or fleeting thought that comes along. Steady yourself in the Word of God.

Edwin Louis Cole — Never Quit, excerpts from Chapter 6 “Steps to Entering and Leaving”

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If a circumstance you find yourself in is unhealthy or opposed to the values found in God’s Word, you can know you need an exit plan. But there are times where we just want a change and aren’t sure if it’s okay to make one.

In these situations, ask God to speak to you, and genuinely listen and expect Him to give you the direction you’re seeking. I’ve found if I’m patient, He will answer when I need Him to.

Other times, I realized He wanted me to make the choice with pure motivations in-line with Jesus’s character.

You can follow what you know He has said in His Word and previous directions, considering the calling He’s placed on your life, as well as the cry of your heart toward the gifts and passions He’s given you. Trust His Spirit to guide you even when you don’t recognize His leading—as well as to course correct if you go astray.

Following Him in this way, as well as His gentle whispers, will always answer that, “Should I stay or should I go,” question. If you’re thrown into the crisis of change, or when it’s time to make a decision, remember the principles above. I highly recommend getting Edwin Louis Cole’s book Never Quit by clicking HERE!

Be blessed!