By Dale Sellers

Have you finally had enough? How do you know when it’s time to quit what you’re currently doing and move on to something else?

If you’ve been in ministry for a while, then I imagine you’ve come to the “quitting crossroads” a time or two. I know I have. Sometimes, the pressure and stress of leading can get to the point where we just need to get some relief. And if you’re like me, you probably don’t want to actually quit what you’re doing. You just haven’t found a way to diffuse the pressure while still being out in front of everyone as you lead them to the next destination.

I actually first came to the quitting crossroads at a point in the beginning my ministry life. I was leading a traveling music group with Gina early in our marriage. Contemporary Christian Music had exploded on the scene in the eighties. Therefore, it was quite common for a tour to roll into my hometown almost weekly.

I guess you could say that Gina and I caught the traveling bug after a couple of years of weekend travel with a music group based out of our college. From there, we launched our own group that toured for six years. Between the two groups, we performed over 1,100 concerts in 10 years. It was an awesome experience most of the time. But it also had its challenges.

Crisis at the crossroads.

One of the biggest decisions we faced in the early years was trying to decide when to go full-time with the ministry. Each member of our group worked a full-time job or attended school throughout the week and then traveled every weekend. It was normal for us to do a concert on Friday, Saturday, and twice on Sunday. In some instances, we would literally drive all night after the Sunday evening concert in order to get back home in time to go to work or college the next day. As you can imagine, those times were brutal.

The popularity of our group led us to wonder whether it was time to quit our jobs and go full-time on the road. Traveling part-time was so exhausting. However, the greatest benefit of being part-time was that it allowed us to reinvest the income we generated from our travels back into the ministry. Therefore, we didn’t have the pressure of providing salaries for everyone.

We finally reached the point of no return after two years and launched into traveling full-time. There was an immediate joy and fulfillment that we all felt knowing that we could concentrate wholeheartedly on ministry without the distraction of having to rush back home for work on Monday morning. Every one of our team members had arrived at a place of peace and fulfillment that we had been longing for. . . Everyone except for me.

I lived every day with stress and internal pressure that no one else realized I was dealing with.

One of the keys to “making it on the road” is to create a positive cash flow from your concerts, which requires continuous traveling. Making ends meet was accomplished as long as the calendar stayed filled. The problem for me was that I was the one doing all of the scheduling while simultaneously traveling the demanding schedule that I booked. I remember feeling like I was always on a merry-go-round that I couldn’t get off of. I’m not sure I ever truly relaxed during that season.

Something’s got to change.

The internal pressure and stress finally reached a tipping point for me where I had to reach out for help. I reluctantly called my friend and mentor, Roger Breland, because I knew he could relate to what I was experiencing. We didn’t have cell phones in those days. So one Sunday evening I called his home number and left a message on his answering machine hoping to hear back from him in a week or two. Much to my surprise, he returned my call later that evening.

I’ll never forget the relief I felt just being able to talk with someone who understood. After a couple of minutes of small talk, I asked Roger this question, “How do you know when it’s time to quit?” This was hard for me to do because I had never quit anything in my life up to this point, no matter how hard it was. But I think I knew instinctively that I couldn’t continue down this path.

The answer that Roger gave me that Sunday evening has shaped my ministry life ever since, whenever I faced the quitting crossroads. His simple answer to me was this: “Did Jesus call you to start what you’re doing?” My answer was “yes.” “Did Jesus tell you to stop doing what you’re doing?” My answer was “no.” Finally, he asked, “Do you want to honor Jesus by obeying what He’s asked you to do?” Of course, my answer to the final question was “yes.”

He went on to say, “If Jesus called you to start. If Jesus didn’t tell you to quit. And if you want to honor Him by obeying what He’s asked you to do, then you’d best need to stay with what you’re doing. Or else, you will come to a place in your life that you’ll have to start all over again. However, you’ll just be further behind.”

This wisdom from Roger has guided me through so many difficult seasons of life over the years. I think the only caveat that I would add now, from a position of looking back, is that you must prioritize your soul health as well. The problem for me was that I continued to allow stress and pressure’s destructive consequences to destroy my physical health.

It’s with this in mind that I’d like to offer you some helpful tips on dealing with the decision of whether it’s time to quit or not.

Quick Q&A Tips 

1. How do I know if I’m called to stay where I am? Start by asking the same three questions Roger Breland asked: Did Jesus call you to start? Has Jesus told you to stop? Do you want to honor Jesus by obedience? If the answers are yes, no, yes, that points toward staying the course while making needed adjustments.
2. What if I don’t want to quit ministry, but I can’t keep going like this? That is often a sign that something needs to change, not necessarily that you must quit. The pace, expectations, roles, boundaries, and support systems may need to be rebuilt so you can lead in a healthier way.
3. How do I tell the difference between burnout and a true “time to leave” moment? Burnout usually shows up as depleted capacity and loss of joy that can improve with rest, support, and structural changes. A true “time to leave” moment often includes clear alignment between wise counsel, spiritual conviction, and practical realities that confirm a new season.
4. Is quitting ever the right decision? Yes. There are seasons when stepping away, transitioning roles, or changing assignments is wise and faithful. The key is to discern it thoughtfully rather than reacting in a moment of exhaustion.
5. What’s one practical next step I can take this week? Talk to a trusted mentor, counselor, or leader who understands ministry pressure. Then identify one concrete change you can make to protect your soul health, such as a true Sabbath rhythm, delegated responsibilities, or a hard boundary around time off.

What are you doing that is working well? What is not going so well? Let’s connect and have a conversation about it. At 95Network, we are here to support and serve you in anyway we can. If you feel like you’re in a season where your stalled out and can see the way forward then please reach out to me at [email protected]

• Website: 95Network.org
• 95Network – Soul Care Essentials
• 95Network – Healthy Church Assessment
• Read Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now

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