When God Hits Pause: What My Doctoral Journey Taught Me About Rest and Business
Have you ever felt like God pressed pause on your plans—only to show you a deeper purpose?
That’s exactly what happened to me.
When I started my doctoral journey, I thought it would be about trauma. After all, I’m a trauma therapist. I figured I’d study what I already knew. But God had other plans. What began as a familiar path quickly became a heart-deep journey into what it means to abide as a Christian entrepreneur.
Somewhere between the late-night writing sessions, the revisions, and the tears, He whispered, “I’m not just growing your business, I’m growing your trust.”
That one sentence reshaped everything.
🎓 The Pivot I Didn’t See Coming
Early in the process, God asked me to pivot — away from trauma and toward entrepreneurs and attachment. He wanted me to study how our relationship with Him (our attachment to God) impacts our anxiety, peace, and purpose in business.
The result was my doctoral research:
“A Study of the Impact of Attachment to God on Anxiety in Christian Entrepreneurs.”
And from that research, The Abiding CEO® was born.
I wrote it for us — for those who are abiding, and for those who desire to abide. Because we’re all trying to scale, grow, and serve, but if we’re honest… sometimes we lose ourselves in the process.
💡 What God Taught Me in the Process
You can do hard things — but not alone.
I cried. I doubted. I even avoided my computer at times. But every step revealed that endurance without abiding leads to exhaustion. God’s strength meets us when we stop striving and start trusting.
Our attachment to God determines our peace in business.
When we know He’s for us, we stop performing for approval. Secure attachment in Christ gives us the freedom to delegate, rest, and lead with clarity.Entrepreneurship is sacred ground.
Your business isn’t separate from your faith — it’s a ministry field. Whether you’re running a salon, a construction company, or a counseling practice, how you serve others reflects your relationship with Him.
🕊 Reflection
Take a moment and ask:
Where do I feel most anxious in my business right now?
Am I operating from peace or from pressure?
How might God be inviting me to abide instead of strive this week?
“Remember: there’s no shame in slowing down. Rest is not laziness; it’s leadership under grace.”
💛 Final Thought
Whether you’re in a season of growth, transition, or waiting, know this — God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s shaping your heart to trust Him more deeply.
And as you continue building your business, may you do it Secure in Christ and Steady in Business.
Embrace Abundance® — Secure in Christ, Steady in Business.