Friend, are you facing a discouraging time right now growing your online business? Are you finding yourself going through a very rough season of discouragement and opposition as a Christian entrepreneur? Or you’re surrounded by people that are discouraging and negative. If that’s you and you reading this is resonating, it is no accident, my friend.
This was put on my heart to talk about facing discouragement as a business owner and how to navigate through it and through negativity. I felt it was important to talk about 4 things you should ignore as a Christian woman in business to remain positive and hang on to God’s promises in whatever season you are currently finding yourself in.
Prioritize your faith as a Christian entrepreneur
Does it ever seem like you can’t get away from discouraging circumstances or in some way, shape, or form, negativity or opposition? Maybe you feel a little discouraged because your business isn’t growing, or you have a friend or family member that doesn’t believe in what you’re doing.
These are all ways the enemy is trying to tear you down. I want to remind you of 2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did not give you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. At this point, if you’re facing any kind of opposition, read this very carefully. If the enemy is attacking you, you just might be on the right track.
It is very easy to get extremely discouraged when we are facing our problems and circumstances in our own strength and not seeking God. In Philippians 4:12, Paul said that he learned through any situation he faced through God how to live abundantly and enjoy things regardless of his circumstances. Paul was facing execution. And he learned to be content in his circumstances.
Season of preparation as a Christian entrepreneur
As a Christian entrepreneur, do you feel at times that God has you in the wilderness and might be punishing you? The Israelites are a great example of wilderness living. Reaching the promised land was only supposed to be an 11-day journey and it turned into a 40-year waiting season. They had to learn to rely on God, and God had to prepare them for the promised land. Your waiting season is your season of preparation! Friend, your breakthrough is on the way!
It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice and authority and personal power.
Acts 1:7 AMP
Your hardships and harsh circumstances are not to punish you. They are to help you grow. God ALWAYS has a reason for every single trial that you face. It is never to punish or discourage. God knows what you need to face to help you grow into who you are supposed to be. It’s very easy to get discouraged when your new business idea doesn’t work out.
Here are four things you should overlook as a Christian entrepreneur
There are 4 things you should work on ignoring or detaching yourself from as you are trying to grow your business as a Christian Entrepreneur.
1. Negativity
- Some people will try to minimize your effort to grow your own business. If you are around someone that is negative and you can’t completely stay away from them, limit time with them.
- Limit the information you give them. If you know there is a chance that whatever ideas you express might not be supported, find a more supportive friend.
Paul also says in Galatians 1:16 that when he was called, he didn’t share his calling with anyone.
2. Numbers and analytics
- When you are trying to grow a business as a Christian entrepreneur, it is important to remember that growing traffic and pageviews, and community members will go up and down.
- Analytics are going to fluctuate day to day, and that is completely normal. This doesn’t mean you’re failing or what you’re doing isn’t working. These are just simply there for you to track what content is doing better than other pieces.
3. Overnight success
- You might know an entrepreneur that just started their business and within 30 days their business is rockin’. This kind of business growth is completely unattainable and a completely unrealistic goal. Slow growth is a much more attainable goal.
- Focus on long-term success. When SEO and content strategy are done right, your content will bring you traffic for a long time.
4. Comparing your progress to others’ success
- As a Christian entrepreneur, not everyone’s success is going to look like yours will. It’s really easy to get stuck looking at what others have accomplished and you want to be in that place yourself, but because you aren’t where they are, you start getting discouraged.
- Instead of comparing, view it as inspiring and a motivator to grow your business. If you don’t give up, you will eventually start seeing progress. Showing up consistently for yourself and for your audience is half of the strategy.
My prayer for you
Father God, I lift up my sister in You that is reading this right now. Pour peace into them in their waiting season, God. Give them patience and direct them to scripture that will give them answers to their questions and contentment in this season of waiting and preparation. Give them hope that their breakthrough is on its way. In Jesus name. Amen.
I also want to point you to a couple of scriptures that the desire placed on your heart is there because God has placed it there. I encourage you to read Ephesians 2:10, and Ephesians 3:20, and really dig into these scriptures and journal your thoughts on what stands out the most to you in these scriptures. Pray and meditate on these scriptures and seek direction from God.
Hey there skimmer
Wanna listen instead of read? Listen to episode 4 // Facing Discouragement? Here Are 4 Things You Should Ignore as a Christian Entrepreneur.
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