Trying to start a business has its challenges. At times I wonder just what I am doing, and I am not sure of how to go about it. Am I doing the right thing, am I on the right track? That is what I keep asking myself. I think if I peel away the layers, the underlying issue is that I am fearful I will not be successful, that I am setting up everything to fail.

Then came last night, actually early this morning.

For years I have had trouble sleeping, and it is really frustrating. During the night it appeared I would sleep for one to two hours, then wake up, go to the bathroom, and make the attempt to get back to sleep. But I also realized I was having these crazy dreams, to the point that if I wasn’t careful, I would become too scared to move. There have been times this had happened before years ago when the result being I was really scared. I would pray and call out the name of Jesus, and eventually I would go back to sleep.

A couple of months ago I purchased a new bed with an adjustable frame, and I really like it (go to dreamcloudsleep.com and check it out), in an attempt to see if a new bed would make my sleeping better, and in a lot of ways it has done just that. But when you are half awake but not yet asleep, one starts thinking something is wrong with the bed. I prayed for God to bless the bed, I prayed that I would only dream dreams God sent, I called out Jesus’ name. Then something occurred to me:

• What have you been doing of late?
• Was what you have been doing wrong, meaning is God pleased or not?
• Who is not pleased with you now?

Then I started thinking.

• I am teaching a small group using the book Don’t Give the Enemy A Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio, which started Tuesday, and the first meeting went well.
• I started taking a class from a seminary about Christology; that started the same night
• My goal with the business is to help religious organizations by creating short videos that could introduce new sermon series
• I am creating short videos to sell as subscriptions; the videos’ point of view is based from a faith perspective

Then I remembered the dreams I was having. They were not positive; people beating each other up, chasing each other, people dressed in black doing the same. These dreams were similar to the ones I had years ago. Then the question came to me mentally if what I was doing was wrong; of course, the answer was no. But there was someone who was not happy with what I was doing, and that was the enemy. Therefore, God was pleased, and I should stay the course. He would see to it that what I need He would provide. I kept praying until I dropped back off to sleep.

Sometimes one has to take a pause and consider some things, do an analysis, the good and the bad. Frankly, I felt better regarding what I was doing, and decided to continue. I don’t know when the business will take off, but I am confident it will. And if you are going through challenges, wondering what is going on, do an analysis of the good and the bad of the situation. If the good outweighs the bad, keep trudging along, keeping God as your focus and going to him for help when the struggle seems a bit too much.

He will come to your aid; he promises to do so. If he will do it for me, he will do it for you too.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Be strengthened…