ByFaith
Hope for Business Owners During the Pandemic
By Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond
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ho could have ever predicted that the world would be facing a global pandemic and the need for worldwide vaccinations? Over the last year, all facets of our lives have been impacted by COVID-19. Uncertainty about the future, health and safety concerns, and inexplicable anxiety has hovered over the world. Our lives have been forever changed. Likewise, the way we do business has changed. Some businesses have ended, while others have struggled to remain afloat. Surprisingly, some businesses have even thrived following drastic pivots. Individual business owners have had to hunker down and scale to meet the growing and changing demands of this difficult season. This pandemic has taken a toll on every business owner as they have had to deal with anxiety and unanswered questions. How will my business continue earning revenue? How will I be able to pay my staff? Will people still use my product or service during quarantine? Will I be able to feed my family? Will my business fail? Will I have to deplete my savings? What does my future look like? Will I be forced into retirement? Difficult decisions, challenging solutions and serious concerns have led many into a state of hyper vigilance and crippling worry. In the midst of so much uncertainty and anxiety, the Bible has good news for the over-taxed heart and mind. The fact that the Bible talks about fear and anxiety validates the reality of its existence and prevalence. Fear and anxiety are normal in difficult times, but we must guard our hearts from becoming consumed with and paralyzed by it. The good news is that we can turn to the Bible for answers. “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:1718). Turning our attention and focus upon Jesus Christ brings relief and hope for the anxious heart. It brings deliverance and a divine rescue to our troubled hearts, increasing our trust in the Lord. Although our outward situations may not change right away, we can experience inward peace. Leaning on our own understanding in hard times often leads us to a place of restlessness, self-reliance and fear. In Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” This scripture points our hearts away from this hopeless place, toward the Lord’s direction and provision. Even business owners can entrust themselves, their futures and their businesses to God’s care. Whether times are good or hard, every blessing upon a business comes from the Lord. Recognizing that God is the source of business success should help us turn to Him in difficult times instead of being crippled by our natural proclivity toward worry and self-reliance. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and
whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah reminds us that our hope is not in ourselves, our businesses or our futures, but in the Lord. Something powerful happens within us when we trust Him. Stability guides our way. Dependence captures our gaze. Assurance and rest enter our souls. What are you trusting in during this season? Who or what is your heart seeking to give you rest, comfort and stability? As you consider the future, focus on your need to put your hope, faith and trust in the Lord. He has never left you nor forsaken you. He has kept food on your table and clothes on your back. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:33-34). The Bible has the answers to today’s struggles. May you find hope and peace in this season as you turn your heart’s attention to the Lord’s provision, kindness and love for you. Commit your business and its success to Him and allow Him to guide you. Your life and future are in the hands of a gracious and glorious God and Savior. P The Rev. Dwayne Bond is the lead pastor of Wellspring Church.
May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine
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