Discouragement is a natural part of the ministry. You have ups and downs. You have good days and bad days. That is true about any profession. The ministry perhaps is unique in the fact that not only is it a job, it ought to be far more than that. It’s easy to wear your emotions on your sleeve.
If someone leaves the church it can feel like a personal attack.
If someone misunderstands our intention, words, or actions it can feel like a failure.
If someone causes division in the body it is easy to look for a fault in yourself.
Perhaps you are to blame.
But then, again, perhaps you are not.
Much has been made of the fishbowl syndrome in ministry. While it does exist, often it is amplified by the pressure that you needlessly put on yourself and your family. Even if you will not lower the expectations for yourself, do it for your wife and kids. There is no need to be saddled with discouragement needlessly. There are enough challenges in the ministry. You cannot fix it all or get it right all the time. All you can do is your best and let God take care of that which you cannot.