What Nobody Tells You About Building a Faith-Based Business: My Decade-Long Journey of Doubt, Breakthroughs, and Trusting God Anyway

There’s something about my entrepreneurial journey that I haven’t been fully transparent about until now.

I’ve been “building a business” since 2015, and for most of that time, I had no idea I was actually building a business.

I know that sounds wild, but stay with me.

Back in college, I felt this pull toward entrepreneurship. It wasn’t loud or clear. Just this persistent nudge that I was supposed to be moving and shaking in the marketplace somehow. So I minored in entrepreneurship, even though I couldn’t tell you what kind of business I wanted to start. I just knew I was supposed to be doing something.

As I grew closer to Jesus and started really taking inventory of my gifts and talents, the vision got a little clearer. God was calling me to build a media empire where I’d use my writing and speaking gifts for His Kingdom. Sounds pretty straightforward, right?

Except it wasn’t.

Looking back now, I can see how Jesus was laying the foundation piece by piece. He started me off with blogging. Then podcasting. Then I published my first book, Pillars of Hope, which turned into Healing Writing workshops. But here’s the thing nobody tells you: I didn’t see any of this as part of a business model God was designing for me.

I genuinely thought I was just flowing in my creative juices, making things that brought me joy and might make a positive impact on someone else’s life. That’s it. No business plan. No revenue projections. Just obedience that looked like creativity.

Then in 2015, God told me to establish an LLC.

And that’s when things got messy.

Over the years, I invested in business coaching. Multiple coaches, actually. I showed up to the calls, did the worksheets, tried to implement the strategies. But my business never took off the way I thought it should. I felt lost even with guidance. And if I’m being completely transparent with you, a part of me started questioning my worth and whether I was even capable of stewarding a business.

The doubts were loud. The fears were louder. And the “what ifs” wouldn’t shut up.

What if I’m not cut out for this? What if I heard God wrong? What if I’m wasting my time and everyone else’s?

Without clarity, I just felt stuck. So I did what a lot of us do when we’re overwhelmed and confused. I let the idea of building a business fade to the back of my mind. I kept creating, sure, but the business part? I quietly gave up on it.

Then 2025 happened.

God literally shut down my whole life. Everything that had been vying for my attention was removed or cut off. Jobs, opportunities, distractions, all of it. For the first time in my life, I had nothing else to focus on but myself and God.

And I admit, I felt lost and confused. It was like the rug of my own life had been pulled out from under me.

But here’s what I didn’t realize at the time: God wasn’t punishing me. He was positioning me.

During this season of solitude, I started growing closer to Him again. Our relationship had grown stale because my focus had been everywhere but on Him. He was reigniting the fire and passion in our relationship. And it was during this rekindling that He began speaking to me about relaunching Rejoicing Hope Magazine and relaunching my podcast with a renewed vision.

That’s how Journey to Emerge Podcast was born.

He wasn’t just reigniting my passion for Him. He was reigniting my passion for the assignments He’d entrusted to me. So I got to work revamping both platforms. I was in my creative flow, feeling aligned and excited again.

Then God called me to relocate.

I knew exactly where He wanted me to go, but I had no clue how things would unfold. My circumstances weren’t ideal for a major move. Actually, they were the opposite of ideal. So I fought Him. For months. I cried so much during this time.

But eventually, I chose obedience over comfort and made the move.

And listen, that move was exactly what I needed. I experienced so much growth and healing. The passion in my relationship with Jesus was sizzling like the fajitas you get at Chili’s.

It was during this relocation season that Jesus brought the business conversation back up.

Now, I will be honest and say building a business was NOT on my bingo card for 2026. I thought I was going to move, settle in, and coast for a bit according to my plans. But Jesus was like, “Nah, we’re not doing it your way.”

So after more crying, kicking, and screaming, I finally decided to yield to Him and build the Kingdom business He was calling me to build.

But I also told Him straight up: If You want me to build this business, You’re going to have to send me someone to guide me on this journey.

And baby, as quickly as I prayed that prayer, He sent me an amazing coaching team to support me as I build this Kingdom business.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s been smooth sailing since then. There are days where I want to throw in the towel and go back to what’s familiar. But Jesus has all those doors slammed shut and locked with a heavenly lock.

My circumstances still aren’t ideal. But I’m building anyway.

So here’s what nobody tells you about building a Kingdom business, lessons I’m learning in real time as I walk this out:

Clarity Comes Through Obedience, Not Before It

You need clarity on what to build, but clarity doesn’t always come before obedience. Sometimes you have to start moving before the full picture reveals itself. God gives us just enough light for the next step, not the whole staircase.

Partnership Over Permission

You have to partner with God, not just pray to Him about your business. This isn’t about asking God to bless your plans. It’s about surrendering your plans and building what He’s designed you to steward. There’s a difference.

Faith Over Circumstances

You will have to step out on faith when nothing makes sense. Your bank account might not reflect the vision. Your circumstances might scream “not yet.” But faith isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions. It’s about moving when God says move.

Obedience Requires Discomfort

Obedience is required, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable. The assignments God gives us aren’t always convenient or easy. Sometimes they require us to relocate, pivot, start over, or build something we never planned to build.

Courage Doesn’t Mean Fearless

You will have to do it afraid. The fear doesn’t go away just because you’re walking in obedience. You’ll question yourself. You’ll wonder if you heard God correctly. You’ll have moments where you want to quit. That’s normal. Do it afraid anyway.

Trust Beyond What You See

You have to trust God beyond what your circumstances say. What you see in the natural doesn’t always reflect what’s happening in the spiritual. God is working even when you can’t see the results yet.

Tears and Prayers Are Part of the Process

Crying and praying will become your daily rhythm. This journey will stretch you in ways you didn’t expect. You’ll have breakthrough moments and breakdown moments, sometimes in the same day. Let yourself feel it all and bring it all to God.

Surrender Is Daily, Not Once

Surrendering your will to the Lord is an ongoing practice, not a one-time decision. Every day, you’ll have to choose His way over your way. Some days that choice will be easy. Most days it won’t be.

The Desire to Quit Is Normal

You will want to quit every other day. Not because you don’t believe in the vision, but because the weight of it feels too heavy. You’ll wonder if you’re the right person for this assignment. You’ll compare yourself to others who seem to have it all figured out. You’ll get tired. That’s when you have to remember: God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.

Opposition Intensifies Near Breakthrough

Hell will fight you with distractions and anything to make you quit. The closer you get to your breakthrough, the louder the opposition will be. Expect it. Prepare for it. But don’t let it stop you.

I’m writing this from the middle of my journey, not the mountaintop. I don’t have all the answers. I’m still figuring things out as I go. But what I do know is this: God is faithful even when I’m full of doubt. He’s working even when I can’t see it. And He’s using my obedience even when it feels messy and imperfect.

So if you’re in the middle of building something that God called you to build, and you’re wondering if it’s worth it or if you’re doing it right, let me tell you: Keep going. Your obedience matters more than your confidence. Your faithfulness matters more than your feelings.

God doesn’t need you to have it all figured out. He just needs you to show up, trust Him with the outcome, and execute on the assignment He’s placed in your hands. Stop waiting for the perfect plan. Start moving on the instructions He’s already given you. Because faith without action is just a wish. But faith with obedience? That’s when miracles happen.

What’s one thing you need to keep doing even when you don’t see the results yet?