Week 21: No quiet quitting for the faithful

Reflections on Psalm 32 for the last week of May

My daughter likes to teach me new words so I can sound hip. Even more importantly, she lets me know when meanings change so that I don’t accidentally say something really weird to someone younger than myself—very helpful!

One of the more interesting terms she taught me a couple years ago was quiet quitting. Quiet quitting is the practice of only giving the bare minimum at work—no volunteering for overtime, no extra efforts, no feedback on how to improve efficiency. A quiet quitter just shows up on time, leaves on time, does the basics, and above all, does not give one ounce of effort that is not required of them. My daughter said that nearly a whole generation of workers was practicing this work ethic because of their disillusionment with their salary package and the demands placed on them by management.

Statistically, about 59% of workers around the world classify themselves as quiet quitters, which is a surprising amount! The prevalence of this ethic in the workplace makes me wonder . . . are Christians quiet quitting, too? And is this a problem for those of us in midlife? There are a some interesting facts on this topic: church attendance continues to fall for Generation X, and church volunteerism is also at a low for us. In addition, we may be experiencing the same struggles that quiet quitting workers blame on their decision to check out: we are burnt out, under-appreciated, unrecognized for our contributions, and our expectations are going unfulfilled.

Parallels aside, David provides us with a clear list of symptoms in Psalm 32 that indicate a loss of fervor in our Christian walk. Here’s a quick description of each one:

Spiritual negligence (verse 2): Not fully living out the lifestyle of a dedicated Christian

The word for deceit at the end of the verse means not giving our best efforts, not being honest about our efforts, and not giving due diligence.

Physical exhaustion (verses 3 and 4): Lack of energy for doing what God has called us to do

David gives a clear description of the physical symptoms of an apathetic spiritual life that lead to ineffectiveness in our service to God and others.

Resisting God’s leading (verse 9): Not wanting to fulfill the purpose God has for us right now and looking for a way out

David counsels the reader not to be like a donkey or horse that must be forced to go where the rider wants to go. God wants our willing obedience, not our foot-dragging reluctance!

Complaints about life (verse 10): A life lived without a passion for God will be filled with disappointments

David reminds us that those who are in conflict with God will amass a long list of difficulties, while the faithful will focus on God’s love and provision.

As I read through Psalm 32 and evaluated my own spiritual symptoms, I could identify areas of my spiritual walk where I am doing just enough to get by in midlife. It’s so tempting to rest on the spiritual development we experienced in years past and think we can just coast along in our later years! But the reality for me was that I was feeling some of the quiet quitting symptoms. I was in need of a cure!

Of course, David offers the antidote to quiet quitting on our faith journey in midlife:

Then I acknowledged my sin to You

and did not hide my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”

and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Selah

Therefore let all the godly pray to You

while You may be found.

Psalm 32:5-6a (NASB)

Our God doesn’t hold us at arms length. Even when we quiet quit our faith walk for a time, confession brings us right back into fellowship with God. All it takes is a prayer and a willingness to embrace the practices and purposes God has for us at midlife. God restores our joy and we learn the truth of this verse:

. . . loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones;

shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Psalm 32:10b-11 (NASB)

My prayer for you this week is that you would be willing to take stock of your walk with God and honestly evaluate it for signs of quiet quitting. God wants more for us at midlife—His plans for us don’t grow old and we don’t age out of fruitful service for Him! But we won’t experience His best unless we are walking faithfully and giving our best efforts to continue to grow and develop in our Christian lives. I don’t know about you, but I want God’s best. I’m not ready to quit, yet!

Readings and Reflection Questions

Monday's reading:  Psalm 32

Read through the psalm and note the symptoms of being out of fellowship with God. Do any of the symptoms occur in your own life? If so, consider writing or saying a prayer of confession and making things right between you and God. If all is well with your spiritual walk, take a moment to list out the benefits of walking closely with God and thank Him for those blessings.

Tuesday's reading: Psalm 119:17-24

The psalmist begins this section of Psalm 119 with a plea for personal revival. According to verses 17-24, what are some keys to personally experiencing spiritual revival? How important is God’s Word to our spiritual health according to the psalmist? In verse 30 the psalmist declares that he has “chosen the faithful way.” What practices does he list in verses 30-32 that prove his declaration?

Wednesday's reading: Psalm 119:25-32

In this portion of Psalm 119, the psalmist makes eight requests of God. List out these requests. Which ones echo the desires of your heart? Pray and ask God to work His soul-reviving power in your life.

Thursday's reading:  Galatians 6:4-10

This passage describes the principle of sowing and reaping. What is the first thing Paul encourages us to do in verse 4? Why do you think he wants each of us to examine our own work and not the work of others? Take a moment to examine your own life in light of verses 7 and 8. What are you sowing and what are you reaping? How are you sowing or how might you sow good things as Paul tells us to in verses 9 and 10?

Friday's reading:  Hebrews 12:1-3

What are some of the encumbrances that keep us from faithfully following God in midlife? What are some of the sins we might be tempted by in this season? What is our motivation for setting aside those encumbrances and temptations? How does Jesus’s life and example help us to keep from growing tired and faint of heart?

Weekend reading:  Philippians 3:7-16

According to Paul, what is the most important thing in life? How does Paul view every other aspect of life in comparison to this one great thing? Paul was probably around 60 years old when he wrote these verses. According to verses 12-14, what kept him motivated to keep serving God in spite of his circumstances? What is your motivation to keep on serving God in midlife?