Ministry is hard. But you don’t need me to tell you that.

You’ve got plenty of people in your ear every week reminding you of (or creating) the challenges and hurdles.

I get it. I was a lead pastor for 13 years. I’ve been in ministry for 20. I know the pressure of trying to shepherd people who often seem to want anything but a shepherd.

I was recently reminded of this weight while reading through 1 Samuel.

When They Don’t Listen

“But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. ‘Even so, we still want a king,’ they said. ‘We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.’”
— 1 Samuel 8:19–20 (NLT)

Now, I know you’re not Samuel. You’re not a prophet in that same way. But there’s something in this story for every pastor.

Samuel warns the people about what a king will cost them—how this move will take more than it gives. But they still dig in their heels. And then God says something to Samuel that every pastor needs to hear:

“They’re not rejecting you. They’re rejecting Me.”

That Hits

We do take it personally.

✅ You cast vision.
✅ You preach with everything you’ve got.
✅ You pray over that message.
✅ You follow up with care.

And then… silence. Shrugs. Maybe even pushback.

It’s hard not to feel like you failed. Like you missed the mark. Like your voice doesn’t matter.

What If Faithfulness Feels Like This?

But Samuel didn’t fail.

He did exactly what God asked him to do. And still—the people refused to listen.

That phrase feels like something we need to embrace as pastors. Not with cynicism, but with clarity. Not with resignation, but with resilience.

You and I are called to speak truth in love. To love, guide, warn, and invite. But not to control the outcome.

Their Response Isn’t Your Responsibility

The weight of response isn’t on your shoulders.

Faithfulness is.

So when the people don’t listen…

When they don’t respond…

When it feels like you’re shouting into the void…

That’s not failure.

It’s faithfulness.

They did the same thing to Samuel.

They did the same thing to Jesus.

Don’t Quit. Don’t Carry What Isn’t Yours.

Keep going.

Keep loving.

Keep pointing people to the better King.

And when it feels like no one’s listening, remember:

➡️ God hears.
➡️ God sees.
➡️ God is still working—often in ways we can’t yet see.

Call to Action:

If this resonated with you, share this with a fellow pastor who needs the reminder. And if you’re looking for practical support to lead with clarity and confidence, let’s talk.

Quotes for Inspiration:

“You’re not failing. You’re just feeling what faithfulness feels like.”
“They’re not rejecting you. They’re rejecting Me.” — God to Samuel (1 Samuel 8:7)

Resources for Further Learning:

• The Resilient Pastor by Glenn Packiam
• Leadership Pain by Samuel Chand
• Emotionally Healthy Leadership by Pete Scazzero

One More Thing…

At Church Accelerator, we offer consulting, workshops, content, and community to help churches break through barriers and grow.

Work with us in the way that best works for you:

✅ RESOURCES: Save 49 hours every month for only $49.

✅ WORKSHOPS & WORKING SESSIONS: Experience our Church Accelerator Workshop, a 2-day process with your core team where we clarify your vision, dream about your future, discover your current reality, and design an actionable plan.

✅ CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS: Great churches don’t happen by accident. We coach and consult with churches with fewer than 100 attendees to churches with over 10,000 to improve discipleship pathways, communication and preaching, church engagement, and church leadership.

✅ ON-DEMAND EXECUTIVE: Add me to your executive team conversations and get a fresh perspective through a personal partnership.

Starting at just $49 – 🚀 Don’t wait—become a partner today.

Leading WITH You,
Dr. Gavin Adams