When is it OK to Quit?

I remember the childlike, over-the-top enthusiasm I had when I first discovered the power of natural medicine. It was a little over ten years ago when a friend introduced me to essential oils. I was so excited I had to tell everyone I knew! I was an earnest oils “evangelist, ” with zero clue that the company I had joined would pay me for sharing these treasures with the world!

In fact, when the first $25 check arrived from Young Living, I was so confused I thought it was a mistake. I assumed I had accidentally overpaid for my last purchase. I was clueless.

Fast forward many years later, I had made a serious go at selling essential oils. I had read every science book I could get my hands on and spent countless hours overlaying what I’d learned with the truth of the Bible. I really, truly believed that the Lord had shown me my path in life. I mean, what could be more rewarding but a career of teaching others about natural wellness and God’s healing design?

Well… I did all the things, under the direction of my MLM “team.” They advised, encouraged, and challenged me into starting a sales business. Little did I know at the time, but their enthusiasm about me was only rooted in their own desire for success… because that is the ugly truth about sales. As a person who values others for who they are personally (not who they know or what they can do for me,) I felt foolish when I realized that their interest in me only went so far as I was bringing in profit.

Turns out, God made me a TEACHER, not a salesperson…

My strength is in sharing stories, ideas and information, not generating dollars, systems and spreadsheets.

• I love, Love, LOVE marketing!!!

• But I hate, hate, hate making the deal.

I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that I had the right product... I just had the wrong business. SO I QUIT!

Oh, I didn’t quit the oils- I will NEVER quit using oils! But the emotional toll of quitting the business sent me into a self-confidence spiral that took years to recover from.

I know that sounds silly.

But knowing the truth doesn’t stop doubt from creeping in. Why couldn’t I succeed when I can teach oils in my sleep? Why do people who don’t even use oils making thousands of dollars? Why don’t people listen to me? Maybe I’m not confident enough. Maybe I’m not interesting. Maybe people don’t like me… maybe I’m just not good at anything!

Oh! And by the way- wasn’t I soooo sure that God had called me to this thing in the first place? Maybe I didn’t hear Him right.

Maybe I didn’t hear Him at all…

The truth is, when you discover that there is a different way of living- a different way to care for ourselves- it’s exciting! It’s revolutionary! But it can also be lonely.

Just like turning your life over to Jesus- every cell of your being wants to shout from the rooftops, “Come and see what I have found!” But as far as the world is concerned, you are the one that left the party. They’re still partying without you.

I’d convinced myself that selling oils was the perfect “job” for me, because I could get paid to educate people! The reality is that sales and teaching are two distinct things.

What I’ve come to understand (after I finished beating up my inner- entrepreneur,) is that sales is a fleeting and shallow endeavor, while education is a noble and arduous task performed over time. Hello… homeschool much? How could I have missed this obvious truth! Not to mention the Bible clearly speaks on this subject. In James 3:1 it says, “not many of you should presume to be teachers… because you know that those who teach will be held to higher standards.” Meanwhile, Jesus was overturning the tables of the merchants and moneylenders in the temple. This is a very sobering thought. Perhaps I was rushing pridefully into sales, when the Lord really wanted me to be growing humbly in wisdom.

I still believe that He has called me to share natural medicine, particularly as it gives glory and honor to its Creator. Perhaps ten years ago the world wasn’t ready for it. Perhaps, when I was doing all the training and reading all the books and teaching all those empty classes, the world didn’t see a need for what I had. They were content with pharmaceuticals and processed foods and chemicals in their home.

But that was before the pandemic.

Now more than ever, people are desperate to seek wellness outside of the pharmaceutical-industrial complex. People have learned about the toxic burden in their homes, their personal products and their food. They are searching for answers from those of us who have been silenced by the status quo.

People are finally ready to hear about God’s medicine rather than man’s!!!

This blog is a leap of faith, because I still believe the Lord has called me to share. He called me a long time ago, but just like Jacob and Moses, King David and even Jesus himself, after God called, he appointed me to a season of emptiness, of wandering the wilderness. He uses the wilderness times to humble us, to teach us, to cause us to trust in Him completely. King David would never have been the man that he was, had he not spent years hiding in exile from Saul. Moses spent forty years in the desert before God called him back to lead his people.

Now I’m not placing myself on equal footing with Moses! I’m just pointing to the fact that the seasons in our lives DO serve a purpose. And we can not possibly understand that purpose until after the season has ended. It is our job just to TRUST.

I do believe it is God’s desire that people everywhere walk in nature’s healing, giving glory and honor to Him, who created all things. Christians especially should not be afraid of natural medicine.

God is the creator of medicine, because he knew man would need it. He is the original physician who designed every detail of our bodies. Do we really think men in their chemistry labs understand healing better than God? He created plants and oils, and rocks and trees and all parts of nature to bring health and strength to the body, mind and spirit.

I do believe it is God’s desire that people everywhere walk in nature’s healing, giving glory and honor to Him, who created all things. Christians especially should not be afraid of natural medicine.

I do not know where any of these discursive thoughts will lead.

I do not know how the Lord will use me.

I just know that He will.