I appreciate the tone you are taking. Too often, we non-believers are accused of being lazy, just wanting to sin, etc. If you actually think we are taking the easy road, you've nicely avoiding saying and it this point I'd agree you aren't even implying it. (Please don't prove me wrong.)
I was a believer for 44 years. (Others on this platform have similar stories.) When I left the faith, I was an elder in my church, married to a Christian woman (still) who is now the Children's minister at that church. I had raised my children to be Christian. I hosted and taught a Bible study in my home for about 6 or 7 years before I left the faith
Leading up to that point involved shedding of many tears. "Lord, I believe help thou mine unbelief." Any indication of God's existence would have done to keep me. But there was no still small voice; there was no rushing wind; there were no miracles; there was only silence. There are only so many times one can write a letter to the girl, far, far way, you assure me loves me who yet won't be bothered to write back.
Either the Christian god doesn't exist; or it doesn't want me. In any case, there may be a girl in Canada (I'm in the southern US), but I can't be bothered to believe her intermediary anymore.
When I left the faith, I called each elder separately and came out. I took the pastor out to dinner and explained. I approached each member of my home group (Bible study) who, I say this modestly, looked to me for spiritual guidance. In many case there were tears. I took my wife out to dinner (prior to aforementioned) allowing for the possibility she might leave me but hoping she wouldn't. (She didn't. We're still together now totaling 36 years.) As we drove home, I struggled to drive through my tears of relief. (Should've pulled over and let her drive.)
Then I gathered my children on the couch (sofa). I explained that I no longer believed in God and that I wouldn't be going to church, etc. They listened quietly. Then the eldest said, "Is it all right if we cry now?"
I was raised in this. My early days would accurately be described as fundamentalist, later, evangelical. I studied, taught, memorized scripture. I even had a hand in leading some "to the lord". I laid hands on people for healing. (None were.)
I broke the hearts of no few people and in doing so broke my own.
In the early days of my non-belief, at work I feared I could lose my job. To be fair, I was probably just nervous (southern US, as I said). But, 13 years on, while I don't make my position a secret, I still don't make my position explicitly obvious.
No, none of this was the easy way out.