Am I Living in a Season of Failure?

As I reflect on all that I want to change in this new year, it feels overwhelming. I want to see change in ALL areas of my life. I want a better marriage, a cleaner house, a fit body, more quality time with my kids, more money in savings, more time with God and His Word, more, more, and more of everything.

It doesn’t take the turn of a new year for me to see what changes need to be made in the attempt to hit the mark of perfection. However, the new year does bring with it an emphasis to sharpen the focus on these things.

This week I have felt like a failure. I haven’t felt like I am hitting the mark so to speak. I do a lot but don’t consider myself great at any of it. While I sat in my messy house pondering my imperfect life, the thought came into my mind: am I living in a season of failure?

I’m going to begin answering my question by defining failure:

Failure: 1.) lack of success 2.) the omission of expected or required action. (Oxford Languages, Google)

If your house is only cleaned on Saturdays, did you fail to have a clean house? If you walk a mile a day but don’t have toned arms, did you fail to exercise? If you read with your kid everyday but they struggle to read, did you fail at teaching them? I would answer all these questions with a no. Parents, Grandparents, adults in general, you have a BIG load of responsibilities to carry. We should not come down too hard on ourselves. Whether you are taking large leaps or tiny steps to meet your goals you are not a failure but rather an accomplisher!

I decided right then and there to make a list of my accomplishments and found out that in all reality I have many accomplishments and very few failures.

My list of accomplishments looked something like this:

-I show up to work every single day, even when I am sick. I am a domestic engineer who does not let one day go by without doing something for my family and my home.

-I am a servant, daughter, and bride who doesn’t let a day go by without thinking of my Creator and checking in with Him.

-I am a friend who will drop everything to help anyone.

-I wrote a book. Let me say that again; I wrote and published a book!

-I created a blog and vlog.

-I have read the entire Bible multiple times.

[I know this is getting long but I can’t stop!]

-I have dug deep to forgive those who hurt me.

-I love people.

-I am raising four humans to the very best of my ability.

-I am the sole educator to two humans. Homeschooling has not been an easy calling for me to answer.

-I go for a walk almost everyday and eat healthy.

-I care for my mother who has physical needs.

-I teach Sunday School and individual Bible studies.

-I coordinate an annual craft bazaar for my church and community.

Okay, after typing this list I am feeling much better and less like a failure! Now you make a list of accomplishments for yourself! Seriously stop reading and do it–now!

I____________, and_______________, and____________, and___________, and……keep going!

(Don’t stop making your list, but come back to reading this when you’re done because I have more to say…)

Didn’t that feel great?! Should we list our failures now? Na, let’s not go there! I am not living in a season of failure at all and neither are you! Our list of accomplishments prove that.

Failures are inevitable, but so are accomplishments. No need to worry unless your failure list far outweighs your accomplishments.

Don’t allow your new year goals to overshadow last year's accomplishments.

Dear precious soul who is reading this right now,

Don’t allow a false definition of failure to enter into your thoughts and steal your accomplishments! Guard your mind against this! One of the best ways to do this is to list your accomplishments along with your goals on a regular basis. This keeps perfectionism from creeping in and stealing your joy. And it helps you keep the proper perspective of failure.

Let’s kick off the new year with this as our mantra:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)