Have you ever experienced a season when everything seemed to be going well? Your business was growing. Your relationships were healthy. You could see God’s blessings in your life, and you felt good about the direction things were headed.
Then, suddenly, everything changed.
What had been working stopped working. Progress stalled. Problems surfaced. And you began questioning your decisions, your strategy, and even the people around you.
But what if there is another question you need to ask?
Instead of only examining your circumstances, have you considered whether God wants you to examine something in your own life?
It is not always a comfortable question. Yet sometimes, before we can move forward, there is something we need to face.
For Christian entrepreneurs and business leaders, this is an important part of growing in character, developing wisdom, and becoming the leaders God calls us to be.
Key Idea: You Cannot Move Forward Faithfully While Deliberately Holding On to What You Know Is Wrong
Information is everywhere. We have access to more advice, strategies, and resources than ever before.
But information is cheap. Transformation is priceless.
Real transformation requires a willingness to examine ourselves honestly and apply what God is teaching us, even when it challenges us.
One of the most difficult areas of personal growth is recognizing when we have become so focused on solving external problems that we have neglected to examine our own hearts.
The opening chapters of Joshua give us a powerful example of why this matters.
What the Story of Jericho and Ai Teaches Us About Leadership
A Great Victory Followed by a Devastating Defeat
In Joshua 6, Israel experienced a remarkable victory at Jericho. God had given Joshua specific instructions, and the walls of the city fell as God had promised.
But Joshua 7 tells a very different story.
When Israel attacked the smaller city of Ai, the Israelites suffered an unexpected defeat. After the victory at Jericho, this setback made little sense.
Joshua questioned what had happened. Why had Israel lost? Why had God allowed this defeat? What had gone wrong?
The problem was not simply a matter of strategy or military strength.
Before the battle of Jericho, God had explicitly commanded Israel not to take certain things from the city. Yet Achan disobeyed that command and secretly took what had been forbidden.
His actions affected the entire community.
God revealed to Joshua that Israel had violated His covenant, and the situation had to be addressed before the nation could move forward.
The account is a sobering reminder that what happens beneath the surface can have consequences far beyond what we see.
The Issue Was Not That God Had Failed to Keep His Promise
God had given Joshua promises, but He had also instructed Israel to obey His commands.
Joshua 1:7–8 emphasizes the importance of following God’s instructions and meditating on His Word.
The defeat at Ai exposed a problem that Israel could not solve simply by changing its strategy. There was a matter of disobedience that needed to be confronted.
The lesson is not that every setback is evidence of sin. Scripture does not teach us to assume that every difficulty is punishment from God.
Rather, the account of Jericho and Ai reminds us that we must not become so focused on external circumstances that we refuse to examine our own lives.
Sometimes, the most important issue is not what we need to change around us, but what God wants to change within us.
What If the Problem Is Something You Need to Face?
When business slows down, relationships become strained, or progress suddenly stops, our natural response is often to look outward.
We review our decisions. We reconsider our plans. We question our circumstances and the people involved.
Those are not necessarily wrong responses. Wise leaders should evaluate their strategies and learn from their mistakes.
But self-examination must also be part of the process.
1. Ask God to Reveal What You May Not See
Sometimes, we have blind spots. We may have developed habits, attitudes, or patterns of behavior that we no longer recognize as problems.
Perhaps pride is affecting our decisions. Perhaps resentment is influencing a relationship. Perhaps dishonesty, selfishness, or a lack of integrity has become easier to justify.
We may not fully understand how these things are affecting our lives and leadership.
David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23–24 provides a valuable model:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24, NKJV)
This is a prayer of humility. It invites God to reveal what we may be unwilling or unable to recognize ourselves.
Instead of asking only for God to change our circumstances, we can also ask Him to show us where we need to change.
2. Stop Rationalizing What You Already Know Is Wrong
There is a difference between having a blind spot and deliberately ignoring something we know is wrong.
Sometimes, we know exactly what needs to change, but we keep making excuses.
We tell ourselves that our behavior is justified by the circumstances. We minimize the consequences. We compare ourselves with others and conclude that our actions are not so bad.
Over time, rationalization can become a barrier to genuine transformation.
James 1:22 reminds us not to be hearers of the Word only, but doers.
Knowing what God teaches is not the same as putting it into practice.
If you recognize dishonesty, bitterness, pride, or another area of disobedience in your life, the next step is not to defend it. The next step is to deal with it.
You cannot experience meaningful growth in an area you continually refuse to confront.
3. Confess, Repent, and Take Corrective Action
Recognizing a problem is important, but recognition alone does not produce transformation.
We must respond.
That means honestly confessing our sin to God, turning away from it, and taking appropriate steps to correct what is wrong.
First John 1:9 teaches that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Depending on the situation, corrective action may also involve apologizing to someone we have hurt, restoring what we have taken, telling the truth, establishing accountability, or changing a pattern of behavior.
Repentance is more than feeling bad about what happened. It involves a change of direction.
The goal is not merely to escape the consequences of our actions. It is to become people whose character increasingly reflects God’s truth.
4. Understand That Correction Can Be Part of God’s Transforming Work
Being confronted with something wrong in our lives can be uncomfortable. It may challenge our pride, disrupt our plans, or require us to make difficult decisions.
But correction can also be an expression of God’s care for us.
Hebrews 12:6 teaches that the Lord disciplines those He loves.
When God exposes an area that needs attention, we should not automatically interpret that conviction as rejection. It can be an opportunity to grow, mature, and walk more faithfully.
The issue we have been ignoring may be hurting our relationships, undermining our integrity, or limiting our effectiveness as leaders.
Addressing it may not immediately resolve every external problem. But it can begin an important process of personal transformation.
God is concerned not only with what we accomplish, but also with who we become.
An Important Caution: Not Every Setback Is Caused by Sin
We need to make an important distinction.
I am not suggesting that every problem in your business, every strained relationship, or every difficult season is caused by personal sin.
The Bible gives us many examples of faithful people who experienced hardship. Difficult circumstances can arise for many reasons, including factors beyond our control, the actions of others, and the ordinary challenges of life.
We should never automatically conclude that God has withdrawn His blessing simply because business is struggling or life is difficult.
The story of Jericho and Ai describes a specific situation in which God revealed a specific act of disobedience. We should not assume that every modern setback follows the same pattern.
Instead, we can approach difficult seasons with humility and wisdom.
Evaluate your circumstances. Review your decisions. Seek wise counsel. And ask God to reveal whether there is something in your own life that needs attention.
The point is not to blame yourself for every problem. The point is to remain willing to learn and grow, even when the process is uncomfortable.
How Christian Leaders Can Put This Into Practice
If something in your life or business is not going the way you expected, take time to consider these questions:
- Examine your heart: Have you become so focused on external problems that you have neglected your own character?
- Invite God’s correction: Have you sincerely asked God to reveal attitudes, behaviors, or patterns you may not recognize?
- Be honest with yourself: Is there something you already know is wrong but have continued to justify or ignore?
- Take responsibility: If God reveals an area that needs attention, what specific action can you take?
- Commit to change: What practical step will help you respond faithfully rather than return to the same pattern?
You do not need to answer every question immediately. Honest reflection takes time, and meaningful change often requires consistent effort.
What matters is your willingness to respond to what you recognize.
The Question Every Christian Leader Should Be Willing to Ask
When things are going well, it can be easy to focus on the results. When things go wrong, it can be tempting to focus entirely on the circumstances.
But both seasons offer opportunities for growth.
The next time your progress stalls, do not limit your questions to your strategy, your decisions, or the people around you.
Be willing to ask a deeper question:
Have I been examining my circumstances, or have I also been willing to examine myself?
Ask God to search your heart. Be willing to recognize what you have overlooked. And if He brings something to your attention, do not ignore it.
Confess what needs to be confessed. Correct what needs to be corrected. And take the next faithful step.
Remember, God is concerned with both what you accomplish and who you become along the way.
The journey toward becoming a better leader begins with the willingness to let God work in you, not just through you.
Continue Your Growth with The Called Founder Framework
Becoming a better Christian leader is not a one-time decision. It is an ongoing process of learning, self-examination, personal growth, and faithful action.
The Called Founder framework is designed to help Christian entrepreneurs and business leaders grow in character, develop better judgment, and apply biblical wisdom to the challenges they face in business and life.
You do not have to have everything figured out. You do need to be willing to grow.
Explore The Called Founder and take your next step toward becoming the leader your business and life need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every business setback mean God is correcting me for sin?
No. The Bible does not teach that every setback is caused by personal sin. Difficulties can arise for many reasons. However, challenging seasons can be an opportunity to examine your decisions, seek God’s wisdom, and consider whether there is something in your life that needs attention.
How can I ask God to reveal hidden sin in my life?
Begin with an honest prayer, such as David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23–24. Read Scripture, reflect on your attitudes and behavior, and remain open to correction. Trusted, spiritually mature counsel can also help you recognize blind spots.
What should I do if I recognize sin in my life?
Confess it honestly to God, repent, and take appropriate corrective action. Depending on the situation, that may include apologizing, making restitution, seeking accountability, or changing an established pattern of behavior. The goal is genuine repentance and a faithful change of direction.
How can Christian leaders balance self-examination with business problem-solving?
Do both. Review your strategy, decisions, operations, and circumstances while also examining your character, motives, and conduct. Self-examination should complement wise leadership, not replace practical problem-solving.
What is The Called Founder framework?
The Called Founder framework is a leadership development pathway for Christian entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to grow in character, make wiser decisions, and achieve better results while remaining faithful to their biblical convictions. It connects personal growth with practical leadership in business and life.
Ready to become a better leader? Explore The Called Founder framework.