As I drove home Tuesday night, my head was swimming? What went wrong? Why hadn’t anything worked? We were trying to live stream an evening of prayer using our new equipment and software. I had spent an obscene amount of time prepping, practicing, and putting together a plan. When it came time to go live, everything failed. While I don’t mind failure, what was most painful was the criticism and critiques we received from hopeful participants.
The trouble continued into Holy Thursday. While most of the issues from Tuesday were rectified, there were still problems with the wifi. More comments and critiques came our way. I was frustrated because we were trying to help people grow in their faith; however, no matter our intentions, it felt like we were being punished for trying.
It’s not easy to face the criticism that comes with doing something new or different. Instead of allowing the negative talk to slow you down remember:
There are several reasons you face pushback:
FIRST: THE EVIL ONE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SUCCEED
John 10:10 says, “A thief comes only to steal, slaughter and destroy.” The reason we face opposition is that there is an evil one who wants you to lose hope. Satan will attack in personal ways. When he strikes, it’s a sign you are doing God’s work.
SECOND: CHANGE IS HARD FOR EVERYONE
Your new initiative is going to bring others out of their comfort zone. People will have fears or concerns, and most times, they’ll express it to you. Don’t reject their emotions; instead, listen, walk with them, and help them see how the change could improve their life.
THIRD: YOU CAN’T SATISFY EVERYONE’S EXPECTATIONS
There will be people who are excited for the journey you are on; however, their expectations of how far along you should be won’t always match reality. No matter how far you are in the process, people will be frustrated because you aren’t where they want you to be. Your mistakes and mishaps will disappoint the perfectionists and idealists. You may even be one of those people.
Whether the opposition you face is from the devil, fear, or false expectations don’t let it hold you back because:
Even the most innovative, creative, and outside the box thinkers struggle to get it right the first time. You don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s okay. When it comes to doing something new (especially learning new technology) it requires:
RESEARCH so that you can set the right goals and make the best decisions on how to proceed further.
SETTING UP TRIALS to test what you know and learn from successes and failures.
CREATING GOALS with timelines so that you can measure progress
Nothing happens overnight. To perfect a craft or take a project to the next level, you have to have patience. It’s essential to trust the process and believe the Holy Spirit is guiding you to make the right decisions.
Failure can be a nasty beast, but even in the worst situations, you can find a silver lining. It can be hard to find the positive because the negative is louder, but when you look for the positive, it’ll bring you hope. Identifying bright spots in your work will help you discover what is working and where you should direct your resources.
The positive also reminds us why we took on the project in the first place. After I was driving home Thursday feeling like a failure, I received a text from my friend that said:
Good job tonight. I know there were some kinks but I’d rather pray with my church with kinks than pray by myself on Holy Thursday.
When I went back home and looked at the comments, I was overwhelmed by the prayers and gratitude. Even when you feel punished for trying, people are cheering for you. The teens, families, and adults in your parish want you to succeed. Most importantly, God wants you to find joy in the journey; therefore, He’ll give you what you need.
Want to be a part of a community that’s going to cheer you through pushback and opposition? Check out MYM U today.