Podcast Summary: The Tragedy Of Trying – Mustard: The Seed That Can Change Everything (Part 4)

Podcast: Transformation Church
Host/Speaker: Michael Todd
Date: May 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode, Pastor Michael Todd addresses the struggles of faith fatigue and the hesitancy many believers feel when faced with repeated disappointment. Drawing from Matthew 17:14-20, he explores "The Tragedy of Trying" – what holds people back from stepping out in faith after they’ve experienced failure, embarrassment, correction, and disappointment. Through honest storytelling, relatable analogies, and biblical teaching, the message invites listeners to confront their own reluctance and encourages them to try again, trusting that growth happens through both victories and failures.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Faith Fatigue and the Reluctance to Try Again

• Context: Many believers feel exhausted by disappointments, making it difficult to trust God for “another miracle.”
  • "Some of you, the honest truth is you've stopped trying. And today, write down the title of my message: The Tragedy of Trying." (02:40)
• There is a stigma in church culture around admitting when faith doesn’t produce the desired outcome, leading people to stop applying faith in certain areas.

2. The Biblical Story: The Disciples’ Failed Attempt

• Scripture: Matthew 17:14-20 (Amplified Version)
• The disciples try and fail to cast out a demon, leading to embarrassment and public correction by Jesus.
  • "How in the world is the response to me doing what you said for me to do and it not working, be like, get your faith up, huh? My faith was up. That's why I did it." (09:24)

3. Major Obstacles to Trying Again

a. Embarrassment (18:40)

• Many avoid stepping out in faith to avoid looking foolish.
  • "The first reason why you don't try is because you're trying to avoid embarrassment." (18:54)
• Embarrassment should not halt faith-fueled action, especially when serving Christ who sacrificed for us.
  • "If I'm going to be embarrassed in front of anybody and for any cause, why wouldn't I be embarrassed for the cause of Christ?" (20:42)

b. Correction (28:40)

• After failure comes correction, but many conflate correction with punishment due to past trauma.
  • "Correction is a sign of love... God doesn’t punish you because he loves you. He corrects you because he loves you." (31:12)
• True growth requires submission to being corrected by God and those He uses.

c. Insufficiency and Asking Why (34:15)

• Admitting insufficiency and asking “why” is often seen as weakness, but it’s a step toward deeper faith and understanding.
  • "Wherever you can't ask why, you usually walk away. And so many people have walked away from using their faith because they have felt like asking God why was disrespectful... But God can handle your why." (38:00)

d. The Requirement for Growth (47:50)

• Faith that remains stagnant cannot suffice for bigger challenges; growth is necessary.
  • "For some of you, the level of faith that you're on right now is not enough for what you're praying for." (55:00)
• Jesus tells the disciples that certain breakthroughs require prayer and fasting—a deeper level of maturity.

e. Disappointment (61:50)

• The fear of being disappointed again keeps many stuck.
  • "What if I try and nobody comes? What if I put the book out and nobody buys it but my mom?" (62:00)

4. Growth Analogy: The Weightlifting Process

• Personal Story: Pastor Mike’s journey from lifting 10-lb weights to finally taking on the 100-lb set illustrates the courage to try, fail, and grow.
  • "The point of growth is at the moment it doesn't work." (53:00)
• Growth happens at the edge of comfort, where failure is possible but not final.
• "Some of you are too prideful to ask for a spot...but if I had just a few people who would pray, I feel like I could get up some weight I never thought was possible." (59:28)

5. The Necessity of Honest, Repeated Effort

• Growth in faith is not about comfort but embracing the risk and inevitability of failure as an opportunity to learn and trust God more.

• "The only tragedy of the disciples would have been all the lessons they missed if they didn’t try." (70:40)

6. Redefining Failure

• Failure is reframed as an invitation to deeper faith, rather than a verdict on one's relationship with God.
  • "Failure is an invitation to a new level of faith." (74:45)

7. A Call to Respond

• Pastor Mike calls for honest self-assessment and faith activation through prayer and altar ministry for those experiencing "faith fatigue."

8. Testimony and Healing Prayer

• An additional encouraging testimony is shared about enduring deep loss and trusting God to repair faith after heartbreak.
  • "Even when it seems like your faith has failed, God can repair your faith and give you a ‘try again.’" (67:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Embarrassment:
  "If I'm going to be embarrassed in front of anybody and for any cause, why wouldn't I be embarrassed for the cause of Christ?" (20:42)

• On Correction:
  "Correction is a sign of love...God doesn’t punish you because he loves you. He corrects you because he loves you." (31:12)

• On Asking Why:
  "Wherever you can't ask why, you usually walk away. And so many people have walked away from using their faith because they have felt like asking God why was disrespectful... But God can handle your why." (38:00)

• On Growth:
  "For some of you, the level of faith that you're on right now is not enough for what you're praying for." (55:00)

• On Trying and Triumph:
  "Some of you won't even find a triumph because you won't try...the triumph of using the 50s would have never happened if I did not try." (59:00)

• Redefining Failure:
  "Failure is an invitation to a new level of faith." (74:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:40 – Introducing the theme of "The Tragedy of Trying"
• 09:24 – The reality of faith not producing expected outcomes
• 18:54 – Embarrassment as the first major obstacle
• 28:40 – Handling correction and understanding its place in spiritual growth
• 34:15 – The power of asking 'why' and admitting insufficiency
• 47:50 – The requirement for growth and the need for spiritual maturity
• 53:00 – 62:00 – Weightlifting analogy: the process of growth through resistance and risk
• 61:50 – The paralyzing fear of disappointment
• 66:30 – Call for altar response; prayer for faith fatigue
• 67:00 – Personal testimony about faith in the face of loss
• 74:45 – Final reframing: Failure as an invitation to deeper faith

Tone and Language

The episode is marked by Michael Todd’s signature authenticity, humor, and vulnerability. He balances biblical teaching with real-life analogies and “real talk,” frequently encouraging the audience to be honest about hard questions and brave enough to try again, no matter the outcome. The tone is both challenging and compassionate, targeting those who are weary in their faith.

Summary

Pastor Todd’s message challenges listeners to confront the raw realities of disappointment and “faith fatigue.” By examining the disciples’ failed miracle attempt, he breaks down the major psychological and spiritual barriers to trying again—embarrassment, correction, exposure of inadequacy, the requirement to grow, and fear of disappointment. Growth in faith, he insists, demands repeated, honest effort and a willingness to learn from failure. The episode ends with a heartfelt call for prayer and renewal, rounded out by testimony that even in the darkest places, “God can repair your faith and give you a try again.”

For anyone feeling stuck, hesitant, or worn out in their spiritual journey, this episode offers practical wisdom, deep reassurance, and a rousing call to action: Try again.