When I first heard the phrase “quiet quitting” I have to confess that I rolled my eyes when I heard it. I thought, “Here comes yet another new buzzword to hype a made-up idea or highlight some trend.”
After giving this some thought, I have decided that “quiet quitting” is a real thing.
And it’s been around a long time.
By definition, “quiet quitting” is where a person does not outright quit their job but instead quits on the idea of giving their best to their job, of working overtime or doing anything more than is asked of them. When someone decides to “quiet quit” they decide that from that point forward they will do the bare minimum.
As I said, people have been “quiet quitting” for a long time. And not just at work.
There are people who have “quiet quit” their marriage. They live together with their spouse and co-parent and keep up with the bills and chores that keep their household running, but they have long since given up any hope that their marriage can be any different than it already is. Day by day they simply do what it takes to maintain the status quo.
There are those who have “quiet quit” on parenting a difficult child. After years of arguments and disappointment after disappointment they have decided that nothing’s ever going to change. And so, they do the bare minimum in that relationship and try to protect themselves from further disappointment.
Some have “quiet quit” on life itself, choosing to move through life doing no more or giving no more than is absolutely necessary. They don’t engage with others. They don’t seek out new experiences. They don’t expect much from life or the people in their life.
The worst example of this is where one has “quiet quit” on their relationship with God, His people and faith.
I’ve seen this a lot over the years. It can happen for any number of reasons.
Maybe their feelings got hurt or they felt overlooked.
Maybe they thought that their brothers and sisters would help them in some way and it didn’t happen.
Or maybe they just got burned out. In practical terms (but not in theological terms, cf. 1 Peter 4:10-11), the church is an all-volunteer organization. Often 80% of the work in a church is done by 20% of the people. Burnout is common.
Probably the most common reason for “quiet quitting” on God is unanswered prayer. Nothing hurts more, nothing is more disquieting than when God seems to respond to our prayers with silence.
Of course, that’s not really the case. God always hears and responds to each request we make.
In 1 John 5:14-15 we read,
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. {15} And if we know that He hears us —whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
God always answers our prayers!
Now, sometimes He says “No”. Sometimes He says, “Not now”. He may even say, “I think it’s best if I give you something different than what you have asked for.” But He always responds.
I don’t know that we can say that God is ever “silent”. Not really. He speaks to us through His Word (Hebrews 4:12). He speaks to us through the revelation of Himself in nature (Romans 1:18-21). He uses people whom He places in our lives to offer words of encouragement, give instruction, and provide correction (Proverbs 19:20).
I don’t know that there’s ever a time when God is “silent”, but I think we often assume He is silent when, in fact, He has answered us — in the negative.
Hurt, disappointment, burnout and unanswered prayer are reasons why many have “quiet quit” on their relationship with God, His people, and faith.
But “quiet quitting” is not the solution to any of those things!
The solution lies in going to that person who has hurt you and doing whatever it takes to restore the relationship (Matthew 5:23-24).
If you’ve been disappointed, the solution lies in examining your expectations to see if they were realistic in the first place and, when all is said and done, extending to others some of the grace you yourself have received (cf. Colossians 3:13).
If you feel you are experiencing burnout in your work for the Lord, take a hard look at your priorities (Matthew 6:33). Be honest with yourself about where and how you utilize your time and energy (cf. 2 Peter 3:10-12). Recast your vision. That is, remind yourself why you are serving God and others in the first place. This will help reignite your passion for service (cf. John 9:4).
“Quiet quitting” is a new name for a very old phenomenon.
Let’s resolve to counter this trend with the spirit Paul enjoins in Colossians 3:23-24 —
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, {24} since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”