Proverbs 4:23 — ”Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT) 

In another translation, this one reads as:

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

When I first became a Christian, this was my declared favorite verse. At the time, it became the lens I was working through because looking back, I was letting a lot into my heart that was really messing up my life. I was not guarding my heart. I was hanging onto everything that anyone said, positive or negative, really affect me instead of focusing on God’s word first.

How does this relate to business? As business owners, I believe we often let things into our hearts that we shouldn’t. We let negative feedback, an online bully, a bad month of business, or a sideways comment from a friend about your work get into our hearts. This feedback then starts to affect us at the core level. It doesn’t take much sometimes to distract us from the work God has called us to do.

Now let me just add: I’m not saying that you shouldn’t pay attention to a bad month or to a negative review. I’m not telling you it shouldn’t matter or pretending it doesn’t exist. What I am asking you to consider is: are you letting it define you? Is that where your hope is? Is that the piece of your business you are holding onto above all else? 

Oftentimes we may think of this as just a negative thing but we can cling to positive reviews and praise too. Instead of stamping that on our hearts, we really need to make sure we are keeping God at the center and focusing on his plans for us.

 

As Christian business owners, we need to guard our heart

 

We need to be vigilant when deciding what we let go from our minds to our hearts and our core. We need to gatekeep what we let define us, who we are listening to, and who we are giving control to. 

 

Especially if you are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain in your business, I want to encourage you to ask yourself:

• What advice are you letting in? 
• What comparisons are you letting sink into your heart? 
• What words are motivating you the most?
• Who are you answering to? 

 

One of the reasons I wanted to share encouraging bible verses for business owners is so that when times of uncertainty come, we can make sure that it’s ultimately things of the Lord that you’re letting into your heart. 

Read More: If you are a mom and a business owner and it feels really hard right now, make sure to tune in to this episode with Joy Michelle.

 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 — ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (NLT) 

 

I want to share another Proverbs verse before we move on to other parts of the Bible. As you likely already know, trusting in God is a huge theme in the Bible. He tells us to trust in him over and over and over again. But Why? I believe it’s because we need the reminder and we need to hear it said differently. 

I actually looked into this further if you are interested, and found that in the Bible, there are 191 variations of the word “trust” between the New Testament and the Old Testament. Clearly, we need this message to turn to especially when times are uncertain or hard. I know this has been true for me personally as a business owner because it can be so easy to put our trust in other things.

There are a few examples of encouraging Bible verses telling us to trust God but two that come to mind are Psalm 19: 7 where it says “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”. Then in Leviticus 19:4, God tells us not to trust in idols as well.

It’s a recurring theme for a reason. Which is why I have to ask: who are you putting your faith and trust in? Who has power over your life right now? Is yourself? Is it the big client you finally landed and are so excited about? Is it a podcast you’re going to be a guest on? Is it your competitor who spoke poorly about you in a sideways comment on their social media? 

I’m speaking to you as someone who has also been in those situations time and time again, where we give the power away to someone else when the power should be going to God. 

 

When Business Feels Overwhelming or Uncertain

Just a few weeks ago (yes, even after seven years of business I have PLENTY of hard days when I need to turn to more encouraging Bible verses too), I was really upset about something that happened. I cried about it, talked to my husband about it, and even vented to a friend. I was trying to get sound advice on what to do. 

I also prayed about it. I prayed a LOT about it. I even packed Colin up into the stroller and went for a walk around the neighborhood just talking to God about it. It was then that I literally felt him saying “Elizabeth, where are you putting your trust? Is it in Me? Or in this other person?”.

By the end of the day, I felt such peace around the situation. I quickly realized I was giving this situation way more power than it deserved. God is the one who is in control, despite our uncertain circumstances.

Read More: You can’t be everything to everyone: a business lesson from a very rude email 

 

 

Whatever situation you’re in, I’d encourage you to pray and ask him (or yourself): 

What would it look like if I gave this situation over to you and chose to trust you in this situation?

 

I can tell you this: God is bigger than your business problem, he’s bigger than the threat you’re facing. He’s bigger than whatever is keeping you up at night right now. If you ask him to do his will and to guide and teach you, he will show you what path to take. 

Especially for those of you in the midst of a difficult decision and are looking for encouraging bible verses right now, Psalm 3:5-6 is always one is one of my favorites. Sit, pray, ask him, and seek his will.

 

Matthew 11:28-29 — “Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (NLT) 

 

Jesus makes it clear that we can come to him with our burdens. When I am in need of encouraging Bible verses, I love this passage so much. 

After all, I too have felt weary, just like you. I have had heavy burdens as a business owner. I’ve had to make heavy decisions and had hard things to navigate. I have craved rest. I have the desire to feel ahead instead of behind.  I’m sure you have too. 

Read More: Why after seven years of business, I believe it’s OK to not always be growing your business.

 

Jesus says to come to him and you will find rest for your souls. I love that because isn’t that what our emotional turmoil is? It's a lack of rest in our souls. Then he goes on to say “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

One thing I do when I really want to hand over a burden or a problem to Jesus (because like the scripture says, he WANTS to take your burden and the burden he will return to you is light), I love to journal and give it to God or go on a prayer walk.

 

A Simple Exercise for Christian Business Owners

I’m big into journaling, but if you’re not I would encourage you to try this anyway and not think of it as journaling. Even if you just grab a scrap of mail you need to throw out, I find it can be therapeutic to write your burden down and then RIP IT UP. Journaling doesn’t need to mean saving it for later.

I also let myself cry and be super honest with myself about what the burden is and ask him to take the burden and be the boss. Ask him to take it (and let go). Let yourself rest in him. 

 

Matthew 6:30-33 — “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT) 

 

Another translation of this says: “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” - MSG  (If you are unfamiliar with this translation, it is a less literal translation than the others, but I always like to give it a read for a fresh perspective).

 

God already knows what you need. Right now, as you decided to hit play on this episode for whatever reason, he knows. And he cares. He cares more than you do. 

 

Turn to God when Business Feels Overwhelming or Uncertain

I really want to encourage you to seek God. Seek him over another scroll on Instagram. Seek him over the distraction of pretending everything is fine. Seek him over advice from Google. Turn to him and he’ll provide. The scripture literally says “he will give you everything you need”. 

Rest assured that God is taking care of you, even when things are hard. He’s got you like he’s got the wildflowers. You are his beloved. 

 

Encouraging Bible Verses for fellow Christian Business Owners

I hope you enjoyed these encouraging Bible verses and they can comfort you not only today, but you can come back to them time and time again when business (or life) feels uncertain. I will have the scriptures linked below, but I would love to hear from you if this resonated with you or if you want more content like this. My DM’s are always open!