When You Feel Like You've Failed

"And [Jesus] said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.’" — Mark 4:26-27 (NKJV)

Have you ever felt like your efforts for God aren’t making a difference? Like no matter how hard you work, pray, or serve, the results just aren’t visible? This feeling is especially common in ministry, parenting, or any role where you’re investing in others. Yet Jesus gives us a beautiful reminder in Mark 4:26-27: the work of God’s kingdom doesn’t depend on us seeing the results—it depends on Him.

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a man scattering seed on the ground. The man does his part—planting the seed—but the growth happens in a way he doesn’t understand. While he goes about his daily life, sleeping and rising, the seed is growing in the soil. He doesn’t see the process happening, but it’s still at work. The results are in God’s hands, not the farmer’s.

Ministry can be a lonely and discouraging road. Whether you’re a pastor, a teacher, or simply trying to live faithfully, there are moments when discouragement whispers, “You’re failing.” One of the greatest pastors to have ever lived was Charles Spurgeon. However, he once wrote, "Discouragement … creeps over my heart and makes me go with heaviness to my work.… It is dreadfully weakening." [1] Satan loves to make God's workers think that they are not making a difference.

Warren Wiersbe, writing in Prokope, reminds us that pastors are not superhuman—they face the same struggles, fears, and frustrations as everyone else. Yet, for some reason, many people assume that ministers, or those who serve God, are immune to discouragement.

Wiersbe outlines four common sources of frustration for those in ministry: [2]

1. Unreachable Goals: The desire to “do it all” or see immediate results often leads to disappointment.
2. Unmanageable Schedules: The constant demands of ministry can wear down even the strongest leaders.
3. Uncomfortable Situations: Navigating difficult conversations, conflict, or criticism can be draining.
4. Unbearable Problems: The weight of bearing others’ burdens or feeling responsible for outcomes can feel overwhelming.

George Morrison wisely observed that “God rarely allows His servants to see how much good they are doing, so you will have to work by faith and leave the results to Him. We’ll get the report and the reward when we stand before Him in glory, not one minute before.”[2]
   
This means that much of what we do for God must be done in faith, trusting that He is working behind the scenes. The full impact of our work won’t be revealed until we stand before Him in glory.

"W. A. Criswell was perhaps the best-known pastor in the world during his long tenure at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. His sermons, personal efforts, and multiple books have been the means of winning untold numbers to Christ.

"But in Criswell’s biography, author Billy Keith tells an interesting story about the man who led Criswell to the Lord. It was when W. A. was ten years old, and Rev. John Hicks came to his small Texas town to conduct a revival meeting. Hicks stayed in the Criswell home during his two-week campaign. Young W. A. was greatly taken with John Hicks, and one day he asked permission to leave school to attend the 10 o’clock service at the church. Entering the chapel, he sat directly behind his mother and drank in every word that Hicks spoke. When Hicks gave the invitation, the lad went forward and, with tears, took Jesus Christ as his Savior.

"Years later, when Criswell was a world-renowned pastor, he recounted his conversion to a friend of his, Wallace Basset.

"'Would you repeat that, W. A.?' Basset asked.

"He repeated the story.

"'I just can’t imagine that,' Basset said. 'Johnny Hicks was a dear friend of mine, and he was here in Baylor Hospital in his last illness of which he died. I went often to see Johnny and one day as I sat beside him, he said, "Wallace, my life is over, my preaching days are done, and I’ve never done anything for Jesus. I’ve failed, Wallace, I’ve failed." ’ ”

"Those were the last words the old preacher ever spoke. He didn’t realize how successful he had been in just that one conversion." [3]

Hicks, in his final days, thinks to himself, “I’ve never done anything for Jesus. I’ve failed.” What he didn’t know was that one young boy in one revival meeting would grow up to become one of the most influential pastors in modern history, leading thousands to Christ. Hicks never saw the fruit of his ministry, but God had used him mightily.

This story reminds us that success in God’s eyes isn’t about numbers, recognition, or visible results. It’s about faithfulness. Sometimes, the seeds we plant won’t bear fruit until years, or even decades, later. We may never know how God has used our prayers, our conversations, or our acts of service to impact someone’s life. But we can trust Him to bring the harvest in His perfect time.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve failed, remember this: success in ministry is not measured by the world’s standards. God calls us to obey, to abide, and to trust Him with the results.

Reflection Question: Are there areas in your life where you feel like you’ve failed? How can you trust God to bring fruit from your faithfulness, even if you don’t see it now?

Lord, I often feel like my efforts are small and insignificant. I look for results and wonder if I’ve done enough or made a difference. Help me to remember that success is not about what I see but about being faithful to Your call. Thank You for the reminder that my labor is not in vain when it is done for you. Strengthen me to keep going, even when I don’t see the fruit. Help me to trust you with the results, knowing that You are always working. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Adapted from: "God's Answer for Discouragement": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/zmvsph4/8-god-s-answer-for-discouragement

[1] Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Messages of Hope and Faith (Cleveland, Ohio: Publish House of the Evangelical Association, n.d.).
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, “Formula for Frustration,” Prokopè, May-June 1987, 1–2.
[3] Billy Keith, W. A. Criswell (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1973), 21, 124.