Practical Pastoring: Failure Part One

Failure is definitely not my favorite subject. I would much rather write to you about success and prosperity. Yet from God’s viewpoint, what exactly do success and prosperity look like? When we fail, are we actually being positioned for promotion from the Lord? When our prayers are not answered in the time and manner we think they should be, is God actually revealing a better plan for us?

In previous writings I have shared some of my failures. If we are to be used by God to help others overcome their failures, then we will have to experience failure in our lives. Do not seek failure. Do not give less than your best on a project. Recognize that failure can be a learning experience. Failure allows us to recognize what is not working and make adjustments in our lives. Be persistent and faithful. When struggling to perfect his idea of the light bulb Thomas Edison was asked if he had failed and he replied that he had not failed but he had discovered a thousand ways that did not work.

Pastor Dan moved to Minneapolis to pastor a large church but expectations and circumstances changed. This caused many of us to question the situation. Did Dan hear God correctly? Did I hear God correctly? Did the elders hear God correctly?

I used to believe that if I did what God wanted me to do I would be immediately blessed. Then I looked at the cross. Jesus obeyed His Father and wound up being crucified. Yes, later He was promoted. But God allowed His own Son to suffer in order to learn obedience. Perhaps when we obey God and fail, He is testing us to see if we will still follow Him when our circumstances are not comfortable or favorable.

I agree with Pastor Dan when he stated that walking in our own strength and having false expectations lead to failure. As a new pastor you will be blessed when you discover that you are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. You still need to do your part; but unless the Lord builds the house, you will labor in vain. Who wants to waste time working out of his own strength? Cooperate with the Holy Spirit sooner rather than later. I have wasted too much time being stubborn.

When the Ark Church split following my arrival, I held on to the thought that I was going to work full time at the church. Unfortunately my thoughts possibly delayed God’s best for my life. I always hold on to what Dan said to me years ago when he explained that it was pretty hard to miss God’s best if you are seeking after Him.

Your wife will also experience and be affected by your failure. As the head of the household, you and your family will either be blessed or have to pay the price for your decisions. This is the way God has set up life. Years ago, I damaged one of our vehicles. Karrie said, “That’s not fair. When you mess up, we all have to pay for it.”

I explained that when I am blessed, the entire family is blessed as well.

Karrie has been a great encourager to me. When we struggled financially, she never worried, adding “We’ll be all right.” She encouraged me to become the best at whatever I did. Your wife will need to learn how to become an encourager as well. Job’s wife wanted him to curse God and die. I believe God has given you a wife with a better heart attitude than Job’s wife.

As you and your wife experience disappointment, trials, failure, and loss of joy look to Jesus. He knew what you were getting into when you said “yes” to God. The Holy Spirit will not leave you to your own wisdom. He will comfort you, lead you, and protect you as you obey His still small voice. Thank God for the grace to safely make it through the challenges of life. Thank Him for His faithfulness.

Kevin Barsotti

Ark Church

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This article is part of “Practical Pastoring: Mentoring Growth Letters from a Senior Pastor to a New Pastor, Book Four.” The author responds to his pastor’s letters from 20 years ago when he began his pastoral journey.