I Thought God Called Me… But It Keeps Failing. When : Planted, Not Yet Bloomed: A Message for the Discouraged

When the Call Keeps Failing: What to Do When Obedience Doesn’t Seem to Work. “I thought I was doing what God told me to do… so why does it keep failing?”

The Story She sat in her car, hands on the wheel, engine off. The meeting she had just left ended like all the others: vague promises, polite nods, no real breakthrough. She had prayed, fasted, journaled, cried, and kept showing up with bold faith. Yet again, the door didn’t open.

This was supposed to be the thing. The mission God laid on her heart. The purpose she had given her yes to.

So why did it keep falling flat? She stared out of the window, whispering, “God, was this really You? Did I hear wrong? Or am I just failing You?”

You’re Not Alone in That Place If you’ve ever been there — pouring everything into a calling that keeps collapsing — let’s name the tension: You’re obeying God… and it’s not working. You’re not failing in faith. You’re in the stretch of faith. Let’s walk through this together — with truth, tenderness, and perspective.

1. Be Honest About What You Feel When your faith collides with closed doors, confusion is natural. You may feel:

Frustrated – “Why do I keep trying if it’s not bearing fruit?” Exhausted – “I’ve done everything I know to do.” Embarrassed – “People keep watching me ‘fail’.” Disoriented – “Was I ever called in the first place?”

God can handle these questions. In fact, He welcomes them. > In Scripture, people like Elijah, Job, Jeremiah, and David all reached breaking points — not because they lacked faith, but because they were deeply human. And God never rejected them for it.

2. Revisit the Call Itself Sometimes we need to separate God’s call from our expectations of it. Ask yourself:

What did I actually sense God leading me to? Did I assume success would look a certain way or happen in a certain timeframe? Have I attached my identity to the results, instead of the obedience? God may have called you to plant, not to harvest yet. He may have whispered, “Trust Me with the next step,” and you turned that into “Build the whole thing now.”

Go back to the original call. Strip it down to its core. You might find that God is still calling — just differently than you expected.

3. What Kind of “Failure” Is This? Not all failure is a sign you’re on the wrong path. Sometimes, it’s part of the refining. Here are three kinds of “failures” that don’t mean you’re out of alignment:

Redirection Failure: God may be steering you. A closed door might not be a dead end, but a divine detour. Refinement Failure: Maybe the method, mindset, or timing needs to shift — not the mission itself. Resilience Training: God may be growing your endurance. Character is often formed in the silence between planting and harvest. Even Jesus was misunderstood. Jeremiah’s audience didn’t respond. Paul faced beatings and prison. Obedience and “success” in the world’s eyes don’t always match.

4. Look for the Hidden Growth

Pause and ask:

Have I grown in trust, patience, or surrender? Has anyone been blessed, even if it was just one person? Have I learned something essential I couldn’t have learned without this struggle? Sometimes the growth is invisible on the surface but deep in the roots. Obedience is never wasted, even when the fruit isn’t immediate.

5. Invite God to Speak Again You don’t need to strive for an answer. Just be still.

Pray:

“Lord, I followed what I thought was You. I’m listening again. Speak to me. Redirect me if needed. Confirm what stays. I’m still willing.” Don’t assume that silence is rejection. It may be incubation. He might say: “Keep going. You’re not done yet.” “Shift your strategy, but not your heart.” “It’s time to release this and move on.” Whatever He says, it’s always spoken in love.

6. Anchor Yourself in What’s Unchanging In seasons where the call feels unclear or the mission keeps “failing,” remember:

Your obedience is never wasted. Your identity is not in outcomes, but in Christ. You are not forgotten — you are being formed. This is not the end of your story. It’s part of the middle. The part where roots grow deep before anything blooms.

Final Words If you’re in the middle of a mission that’s not unfolding the way you thought it would, don’t quit just yet — and don’t assume you’ve missed it.

Sit with the Lord. Listen again. Let go of timelines. Cling to truth. You may not see it now, but something sacred is happening. Your faithfulness in the unseen places will never go unnoticed by the One who called you.