Ep 252 // Discouraged? 5 Ways to Encourage Yourself as a Christian Business Owner

Podcast: Simple SEO and Marketing
Host: Faith Hanan – Marketing Strategist, Copywriter, Christian Business Coach, Barrel Racer
Date: December 4, 2025

Overview

In this heartfelt and practical episode, Faith Hanan pivots from her usual SEO and marketing topics to address the emotional and spiritual struggles many Christian business owners face, especially around year-end. She candidly shares five tangible ways to encourage yourself when you feel discouraged or overwhelmed in business, weaving in personal stories, biblical wisdom, and practical exercises. If you’ve found your entrepreneurial drive leading to seasons of discouragement, Faith offers both empathy and actionable faith-based strategies for finding fresh motivation and hope.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Reality of Discouragement for Driven Entrepreneurs

[02:28]

• Faith acknowledges that being a "very driven person" can make it easy to get discouraged when things don’t go to plan.
• Self-knowledge and preparation ("shoring up" with Scripture and reminders) are key to resilience.
• Quote: “As a very driven person, it’s actually really easy to get discouraged because I am always pushing, always going... sometimes when things don’t go how I’m expecting... it’s really easy for me to get discouraged. And that’s something I know about myself.” – Faith Hanan [02:36]

2. Way 1: Encourage Yourself in the Lord

[03:24-12:40]

• Christians have a responsibility (not just permission) to encourage themselves spiritually, not wait passively for comfort.
• Faith unpacks 1 Samuel 29-30, sharing the story of David at Ziklag—his town burned, families captured, his men weeping and turning on him, but David "encouraged himself in the Lord."
• David’s habit was honesty with God—expressing real emotions, and then intentionally reminding himself of God’s promises.
• Application: Get real with God, deal with your emotions, then actively recall God’s faithfulness and covenant.
• Quote: “Remind yourself of the promises of God, remind yourself of God’s covenant with you, remind yourself of the Scriptures that you have built your business and life upon. And that, my friends, will help you encourage yourself.” – Faith Hanan [12:25]

3. Way 2: Take Honest Inventory of Your Efforts vs. Accomplishments

[12:45]

• Many entrepreneurs ("overachievers") set unrealistic expectations; Faith personally relates.
• Life factors (family, homeschooling, volunteering, building a house...) can impact productivity.
• Practical exercise: List all the things you’re trying to do, to see why you might feel so busy or didn’t hit every goal.
• Quote: “Maybe you didn’t have as much time to put towards something as you thought you were going to... I want you to take an honest inventory of all that you were trying to do versus what actually got done.” – Faith Hanan [13:14]

4. Way 3: Make Note of What Worked Well & What You Learned

[14:10]

• Take stock of unexpected wins or successes, new approaches that worked, lessons learned.
• Faith encourages keeping a “to-done list,” not just focusing on items left on your “to-do list.”
• Quote: "If I can make a to-done list, then I know, oh, yeah, I did actually do that and that and that...” – Faith Hanan [14:18]

5. Way 4: Identify How You Saw God Move in Your Business or Life

[15:09]

• Reflect on answered prayers, unexpected blessings, and places where God showed up—even if small.
• If you see little movement, Faith challenges you: Pray bigger, bolder prayers, and truly give your business to God.
• Watch for “ingrown eyeballs”—being so focused on your own stuff that you miss seeing God’s actions.
• Quote: “If you don’t have anything, I’m gonna say that you’re not praying big enough prayers... How did you see God move?” – Faith Hanan [14:56]

6. Way 5: Put the Word in Front of Your Eyes, in Your Heart, and Out of Your Mouth

[16:07]

• There’s “no replacement” for regularly reading and speaking the Bible over your life and business.
• Scripture hidden in your heart helps you resist discouragement and filter worldly negativity.
• If you need help getting started, Faith offers a free 5-day prayer challenge (see show notes).
• Quote: “There is no replacement for the word of God. None. No replacement for your eyeballs on your Bible and the word of God coming out of your mouth.” – Faith Hanan [15:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Faithisms” and Relatability:
  “They realize that David is a bad mama jama. They want him on their side, right? Do you love all of my faithisms in this?” – Faith Hanan [04:18]
  (Adds humor and an approachable tone to biblical storytelling.)

• Practical Encouragement:
  “Y’all, we need the word of God in our hearts and in our coming out of our mouths now more than ever, okay?... If you don’t have the Word in you to filter through things and help continually encourage yourself, then you’re gonna feel beat down—because you are beat down.” – Faith Hanan [16:24]

Actionable Takeaways & Resources

• Write Down Your Accomplishments: Make a “to-done list” to see what you’ve achieved, not just what’s left to do.
• Journal: Reflect on ways God has moved—if you’re stuck, pray bigger prayers.
• Immerse in the Word: Read, meditate on, and speak Scriptures over your business.
• Prayer Challenge: Free 5-day prayer starter series available via link in show notes to help dedicate your business to God.

Key Timestamps

• 00:00-02:28 – Introduction, recognizing discouragement
• 03:24-12:40 – Way 1: Encourage yourself in the Lord (deep-dive into 1 Samuel)
• 12:45-14:10 – Way 2: Honest inventory of efforts vs. results
• 14:10-15:09 – Way 3: What worked and lessons learned
• 15:09-16:07 – Way 4: Seeing God's hand and praying bold prayers
• 16:07-18:54 – Way 5: Immersing in the Word; offer for prayer challenge
• 18:54-19:44 – Prayer of encouragement over listeners

Faith's Tone

• Warm, practical, transparent, humorous (“bad mama jama,” “ingrown eyeballs,” “faithisms”)
• Deeply rooted in Scripture and encouragement, targeting Christian entrepreneurs
• Mix of teaching, storytelling, and pastoral care

Final Blessings

Faith closes the episode with a powerful, heartfelt prayer for wisdom, divine connections, and surrender of your business to God. Listeners are left with encouragement to continue their entrepreneurial journeys rooted in faith and supported by practical reflection.

For more resources and the 5-Day Prayer Challenge, see show notes or visit FaithHanan.com.

“Be blessed, and until next time, glorify God with everything He’s given you.”