When the Weight of the Work Makes You Want to Quit: Finding Strength in Continued Reliance

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve ever felt the weight of the covenant path pressing down—the sheer magnitude of the work, the constant need to *be* better, *do* more, *know* more—you know what I’m talking about. It’s that quiet, insidious ache that whispers, “Maybe I’m too weak for this. Maybe I’m just not meant to sustain this effort.”

I remember a time, right after my first big transfer, when the sheer volume of missionary discussions, the constant need to refine my testimonies, and the feeling of always being 'on' for the Spirit, it all became exhausting. I felt the creeping tendril of discouragement wrapping around my spiritual efforts. It wasn't a big failure; it was a slow, steady erosion of my enthusiasm.

We are called to be disciples everywhere, all the time. We are called to be internet missionaries, to keep the cogs turning even when the feeling of *enough* is nowhere to be found. It’s easy, when we’re in the thick of the field or even just studying in a Book Club, to fall into a trap of self-reliance.

The Subtle Trap: Thinking We Can Do It Alone

The counsel I’ve gathered from my own experiences, and what I’ve seen repeated in the lives of faithful disciples, is that discouragement often wears the mask of pride. It’s not the dramatic rebellion against God, but something quieter, more insidious. It whispers, “I shouldn’t need this much help. I should be strong enough to handle this temptation by myself. I should be good enough to skip the confession, to skip the deep scripture study, to just… coast.”

We get so focused on *proving* our worthiness—on proving we’ve done enough good works, studied enough scriptures, or served enough time—that we forget the fundamental truth: we are not self-sufficient. Our strength doesn't come from our own effort; it comes from the continuous, humbling act of reaching back to the Savior.

Re-Learning to Ask for Help

The lesson here, which I pray you all hold dear as we continue the work, is this: We must take our sins seriously because we take God seriously. We must take the covenants we have made with the Lord seriously. If we treat the gift of the Atonement lightly, if we treat the need for mercy as optional, that’s when the adversary can gain purchase.

But here is the pivot point, the key takeaway that keeps me going when I feel my own spiritual batteries draining: We need to take *ourselves* less seriously. We need to admit, openly, “I am weak. I am imperfect. I need the Spirit’s guidance today, and I need it tomorrow.”

💡 Mission Prep Skill: The Humility Check

This week, as you are preparing for your next missionary discussion, or even just reviewing your thoughts for a family lesson, I want you to practice the "Humility Check." When you feel a wave of confidence—the kind that makes you think, "I know this answer; I've studied this enough"—pause. Ask yourself: "What am I forgetting to ask for help with right now?" Naming that vulnerability aloud, even to yourself, is an act of profound discipleship.

Remember, we are not expected to be perfect; we are expected to be *persistent* in our reliance upon Christ. Keep leaning into the process, keep showing up, and never, ever let discouragement convince you that you are too far gone to ask for help.

If this resonated with you, please share your thoughts below. And for those who want to dig deeper into the scriptures and build that shared spiritual muscle, I highly recommend checking out the latest readings in the LivingBook, especially anything related to the Book of Mormon prophets who faced immense discouragement!