How We Can Overcome Frustration When We Fail To Reach A Goal

Holding up two pairs of pants, the customer’s eyes searched mine. “Which size should I buy? This one fits now, but the other one is the size I want to wear after I lose more weight.” As a young college student I had no idea how to answer this question. Is there even a right answer to this question?

Pressed to respond, I advised her to purchase the one that fits now. She promptly rejected my suggestion because she “didn’t want to settle for her current weight and size”. And then she left without purchasing either one.

It has been over forty years since I had that conversation. Yet that customer’s words came to haunt me just this week. Shopping for new clothes, I faced the same dilemma. Although I’ve made progress on my own wellness journey, I am not where I had hoped to be. 

I imagine you can relate. Maybe you set a goal to eliminate a bad habit or to cultivate a godly one. Or you may have set your heart on achieving a milestone in your personal life or career. But setbacks and delays have frustrated your results.

Reaching any goal takes time and effort. It’s easy to feel discouraged when we work so hard, yet still fall short of the desired outcome. Often the space between where we are and where we want to be can feel so vast and insurmountable. 

At times like these, I reflect on the Apostle Paul’s words to the Galatians. In his letter Paul admonished the Christians to live godly lives by avoiding the acts of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:16-26). Paul understood how difficult it would be for them to change their habits and lifestyles. So he reminded them of this promise from God:

A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:7b-9 NIV emphasis added)

Doing good for the Galatians meant resisting temptations and honoring God with their lives. The same holds true for us. And He promises us a harvest if we persevere. However, the harvest will come on God’s timing, not ours.

While it can be frustrating when I fail to meet a goal in the timeline I desired, I’ve learned an amazing truth. It is in this space ~ between where I am and where I want to be ~ that I experience God’s grace. He understands where I am now, and has a vision for where I will be.

So during this week’s shopping spree, I purchased items which fit me now, because I’ve learned this truth:

My present reality doesn’t threaten my future potential. It just creates a new starting point. 

Wherever our journeys take us, we may feel frustrated when we don’t achieve our goals according to our timelines. When this happens, I pray we persevere and accept grace from the One who promises us a harvest at the proper time.