How to Stay When You Want to Leave

Commitment seems to be a lost art in our world.

When things get tough at a job, in a friendship, at a church, or in a marriage, we just want to leave, and sometimes, we do.

The Temptation to Leave

We think that moving on to the next one will be the magic cure to the conflicts we’ve faced. (There are times to leave in each of the above situations, but I am not talking about the toxic versions.)

But often, God wants to do major growth in the middle of the difficult seasons. He wants us to press in and press on for our good and his glory.

We can’t experience the change, the grace, or the hope our hearts need if we are constantly on the run.

What We Need to Do

When things get tough, stay.

When the arguments continue, stay.

When the romance feels like it’s fading, stay.

When you think there might be something better out there, stay.

When it’d be so much easier to go, stay.

Sometimes staying is the bravest thing to do, and sometimes it is exactly what you’ve been called to.

What Staying Accomplishes

On the hardest days, when you stay, you will be planting seeds of the fruit you will see in the land of the living.

“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14 (NASB)

You will see the goodness of the Lord in your marriage. When you wait for him, stay strong, and take courage, your faith will flourish and your marriage will follow. 

The harvest is coming for you and your husband. Keep praying. Keep planting seeds right where you are. And keep believing. 

Wife Step: Write out a prayer for yourself on the days it’s hard to stay. Put it somewhere you can see it when you need encouragement.​

Kaitlin is a wife, author, speaker, and coach who loves words, good coffee, and traveling to new cities. Her favorite places include airports, hotel rooms, and bookstores. Kaitlin and her husband Caleb live in Huntsville, AL and serve at Church of the Highlands. She never meets a stranger and is a sucker for brunch dates. She hopes everyone who meets her sees Jesus in her eyes and feels a little lighter when they leave her presence. You can say hi to Kaitlin on social media at @kaitlinchappellrogers on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, @kchaprogers on Twitter, or on her website at kaitlinchappellrogers.com!