There was a time in my life when I felt like an absolute failure. I was juggling too many responsibilities—work, family, ministry, and commitments I had taken on out of obligation rather than calling. I told myself that if I just worked harder, I could handle it all. But instead of thriving, I was crumbling under the pressure. I felt exhausted, ineffective, and like I was failing in every area of my life.
One night, after yet another day of barely keeping my head above water, I broke down in prayer. “God, why do I feel like I’m failing at everything?” I cried. In that moment, a verse came to mind—Proverbs 24:16: “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” It hit me: I wasn’t failing because I wasn’t good enough. I was failing because I was trying to do everything in my own strength instead of relying on God’s guidance.
I realized I needed to stop saying yes to everything and start focusing on what God had actually called me to do. Like Martha in Luke 10, I had been so busy doing that I forgot to just be—be still, be present, and be in His presence.
So, I made changes. I prayed before committing to anything new. I learned to say no without guilt. I rested, knowing that my worth wasn’t tied to how much I accomplished. And slowly, that feeling of failure faded. I wasn’t perfect, but I was no longer overwhelmed—I was at peace.
If you feel like a failure because you’re stretched too thin, take a step back. You don’t have to do it all. Let God direct your steps, and trust that He will lift you up when you fall.
What a great message to us moms and preacher’s wives. Thank you! I love that you prayed before committing to anything new. I have needed to do this in my life as well. Thank you, Katie!
Than k you for these words of remembering who we are. We are a child of the King. Let God lead and be our leaning place.