When Success Looks Like Failure

This week, I read about a man in ministry who dedicated his entire lifetime to his mission field. He did everything God asked of him and preached with passion and conviction. Day after day, year after year, he faithfully delivered God's message.

However, after a lifetime of service, this devoted minister had no converts to show for his efforts. Not one soul saved. Not a single person who repented of their sins and accepted the message he preached.

Many would look at this man and shake their heads in pity or, worse, ridicule. Armchair critics would be quick to make assessments:

"Perhaps he didn't preach hard enough."

"Maybe his heart wasn't right with God."

"He probably used the wrong outreach methods."

"His theology must have been flawed."

After all, if he had been doing things correctly, surely someone would have responded!

Does this sound familiar? In our results-driven world, we often measure success by the number of converts, baptisms, church attendance, and so on. When the numbers aren't impressive, we assume something has gone terribly wrong.

But here's the shocking twist: the man I'm referring to was Noah.

Yes, the same Noah who holds a prominent place in God's "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11:7: "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

For 120 years, Noah preached righteousness while building the ark. Scripture doesn't record a single convert outside his immediate family. Yet, God considered Noah's ministry a resounding success!

Why? Because God's measurement system differs dramatically from ours. While we count numbers, God counts faithfulness.

This truth has been tremendously comforting to me as a missionary in Wales. Some days, the spiritual ground here feels as hard as the ancient Welsh slate beneath our feet. We plant seeds, water them with prayer, and sometimes wonder if anything is happening beneath the surface.

But Noah reminds me that our calling isn't to produce results; it's to remain faithful. God didn’t tell Noah, "Build an ark and make sure you fill it with converts." He simply said, "Build an ark." Noah's obedience, not his conversion rate, pleased God.

Perhaps you're serving in a difficult place, whether a mission field abroad or a challenging ministry at home. Maybe you're teaching a Sunday School class where the children seem disinterested or leading a Bible study where growth seems painfully slow. You might be witnessing to family members who continue to reject your message year after year.

Take heart! God's definition of success isn't measured by visible results but by faithful obedience. He sees your persistence when no one else does. He values your continued service when the fruit seems sparse.

Keep preaching. Keep serving. Keep loving. And leave the results to Him.