Stepping into God’s calling
Have you ever known what to do because God told you to do it but you were still nervous to step into the unknown?
Before I started my entrepreneurial journey, I remember hearing God constantly. I mean constantly! He would regularly tell me that it was my time to take a leap of faith, to finally do what he’d been asking me to do—become a business owner.
At the time, I felt I had outgrown my role at work and knew it was time to leave. There was a part of me that always felt guilty when I went after what I wanted, especially because of the adjustments it would cause my family. So I always decided against it.
I just couldn’t figure out how to focus on what he wanted me to do.
I was very clear on God’s word to me, but I fell short in putting it into action. God was pushing me into the “unknown” of entrepreneurship, but how could I balance a business startup and be a mom of three, too?
Trust God’s purposes
As a mom, my top priority has always been caring for my kids—ensuring I am present and available when they need me. From school drop-off to making dinner and tucking them into bed at night, I was there—it was my duty.
So when the time came for God to speak to me about taking my business journey to another level, it felt odd. Almost selfish. No way could I develop and nurture this vision along with balancing motherhood, or could I?
Well, there was only one way to find out. If my journey as a mompreneur has taught me anything it has taught me that God will present us with opportunities and allow us time to respond.
It begins with choice, a choice we make to do all he is asking us no matter what our emotions tell us. As moms, we have the tendency to put this choice on hold.
God wants us to trust his purposes for our lives even when it gets hard. I know this to be true because I was there. I had to make the decision to focus on what he was asking me, and I got to work.
What’s on your plate?
I remember long nights after doing my motherly duties of trying to squeeze productive work in at the end of the night just to make progress on what I knew he was asking me to do. This was as simple as writing my daily or weekly to-do list, following up on emails, or even writing business milestones for that month.
Even though some nights felt more productive than others, I focused on the goal of making progress.
What’s on the other side of your obedience?
One of the lessons I’ve learned on this journey is that obedience is key to growth. God is not able to work on your behalf if you are not. Sometimes we get so busy with the busyness of life that it’s hard to see the opportunities God has created for us—the growth and potential he’s seen in us all along.
All I had to do was move—take action.
Even though the path was not clear, I knew God had me at all times. I clearly defined my priorities, ensuring that I dedicated an appropriate amount of time to work toward my goals.
It is hard for many of us to believe what we can’t see or understand. Many times it requires concrete evidence to validate what we have already been told to do.
Faith should permeate every aspect of our lives. It’s important to move beyond a limited view of ourselves or reliance on how we feel.
It is so easy for us as women to get tunnel vision and see ourselves only in the role of mom.
But, God is also the God of business
As women, we can meaningfully impact the marketplace with our skills and knowledge.
Every day will look different depending on your family’s needs—for some of us every week looks different. The goal is to just keep moving, keep working in an upward direction.
As I obeyed God and entered this journey, I saw so many indescribable benefits. Inspiration bled through simple conversations with my peers and family.
They did not see a working mom, they saw a relatable mom, one going after what she so desired, and not sacrificing her family to do it. An exhausted mom, but one that was fulfilling her calling.
God has plans to prosper us now and in the future! Think about what God has been asking you to do. Are you listening, or coming up with excuses for why you’re not doing it?
God is so good, and he has given you a gift, a gift that could inspire many close and far. He is asking for our obedience—to follow through on all he asks us to do.
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed (Jeremiah 29:11–14, MSG).”
Consider a few extra resources:
