Welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast where faith meets entrepreneurship. Each episode, we uncover the strategies, stories, and spirit-led insights that help Christian business owners align their goals with God’s call. From practical tips to real-life testimonies, we explore what it takes to build a business that honours Christ, serves others, and impacts the Kingdom.
Episode Summary
What happens when the very people called to serve others quietly run out of strength?
In this episode of the Christian Business Growth Podcast, Rev. Lyle sits down with Bethany B. Joy for an honest, grounded conversation about authenticity, identity, and sustainable growth. Bethany shares how her journey as a single mom, coach, and leader navigating progressive vision and hearing loss reshaped the way she approaches business and calling.
Rather than chasing productivity or outward success, Bethany explains how God invited her to chase the Dream Giver instead. That shift changed everything. Her business. Her peace. Her clarity.
This episode speaks directly to leaders, coaches, and entrepreneurs who love to serve but feel stretched thin, unsure how long they can keep going the way they are.
If you’ve ever wondered whether growth has to cost you your health, your joy, or your identity, this conversation will meet you right where you are.
💬 Sound Bites From This Episode
Bethany B Joy – Quotes
- I’m tired of people God has called burning out. It shouldn’t be that way.
- I stopped chasing the dream and started chasing the Dream Giver.
- You can’t be authentic unless you know who you are in God’s image.
Rev. Lyle – Quotes
- If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help more people.
- Serving without receiving eventually costs you.
- AI should help someone, not replace them.
Episode Highlights
Serving Without Receiving Leads to Burnout
Bethany shares how many people in helping professions pour out endlessly without ever learning how to receive. Over time, that imbalance leads to exhaustion, resentment, and loss of clarity.
Belonging Comes Before Becoming
Real growth does not start with strategy. It starts with knowing where you belong and who you are growing alongside. The right community creates safety for deeper transformation.
Identity Fuels Sustainable Growth
Bethany explains why authenticity is impossible without identity. When you know who you are in God’s image, you no longer feel pressure to perform, pretend, or prove yourself.
Chasing God Over Outcomes
Rather than clinging to a rigid plan, Bethany learned to trust God through shifting seasons, limitations, and uncertainty. That trust opened doors she never would have planned for herself.
AI Is a Tool, Not a Replacement
AI can support accessibility, efficiency, and clarity, especially for those with physical limitations. But it should never replace your voice, your presence, or your relationships.
Key Takeaways
- You can love serving people and still need care yourself.
- Burnout often hides behind good intentions.
- Authenticity starts with identity, not branding.
- The right people will call out who God created you to be.
- Growth that honors God does not require you to lose yourself.
- Tools should support your calling, not replace it.
This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to become someone else to grow. You only need to become more rooted in who God already says you are.
📝 Full transcript here
Rev. Lyle:
Hello and welcome to the Christian Business Growth Podcast. I’m here with Bethany Joy, or Bethany B. Joy as she’s known online. Bethany, tell us, how did God get you into business?
Bethany B. Joy:
Lyle, thanks for having me. I’m really excited to be here. My business grew out of my own healing journey. I’m a single mom of three amazing boys, and during that season I realized I needed support. I noticed I had a pattern. I loved sitting with people who enjoyed mental health conversations. I could ask great questions and make it all about them. I would leave feeling great because I never talked about my own stuff, and they loved it because they felt safe.
Eventually, a counselor called me out and said, “Do you realize what you’re doing?” That’s when I learned how many people in serving professions pour out constantly and have nowhere to just be themselves. He told me I could actually get paid to create that kind of space. That was new to me.
I love mental health. I love serving professions. But I’m tired of people God has called burning out. It shouldn’t be that way. That’s why I do what I do.
Rev. Lyle:
Serving people can be tricky. You give and give and forget to receive. I experienced that in ministry. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help more people.
Bethany B. Joy:
Exactly. One of the biggest growth hacks is learning what you need and asking for it. Most of us don’t do that. Even in helping professions, the only way we learn is by being on the receiving end ourselves.
Rev. Lyle:
What is God currently doing in your business?
Bethany B. Joy:
I used to think following God meant chasing the dream He put in my heart. Now I’m learning to chase the Dream Giver. When things shift, I don’t panic the same way. My business has changed a lot, especially as my vision and hearing have declined. I’m doing more online work and more speaking. I travel with my guide dog and meet people in real life. I never would have planned this, but God is doing it, and I’m enjoying the ride.
Rev. Lyle:
Can you share a little about what you’ve gone through physically?
Bethany B. Joy:
I have CHARGE syndrome. It affects vision and hearing, and it’s progressive. Over the last few weeks I’ve lost more vision unexpectedly. It can feel like a roller coaster. I’ve learned to be honest and invite people into the journey. Most people say yes. God equips you for the moment you’re in, not the one you’re afraid of.
Rev. Lyle:
What does it look like to lean on the Dream Giver?
Bethany B. Joy:
I started in SEO, but I realized people were succeeding outwardly and crashing inwardly. God showed me my heart was really for mental wellbeing and identity. I love technology, but what brings me alive is helping people do relationships well. That’s how I know I’m aligned.
Rev. Lyle:
What’s a business growth tip you’d share?
Bethany B. Joy:
Never stop growing, but grow with the right people. Belonging comes before becoming. The right community points you back to Jesus and calls out who you really are.
Rev. Lyle:
How does authenticity impact your business growth?
Bethany B. Joy:
I stopped pretending to be bigger than I am. I say “I,” not “we.” That honesty builds trust. That’s what makes Step Out and Thrive unique.
Rev. Lyle:
How are you using AI without losing authenticity?
Bethany B. Joy:
I use AI as a tool, not a replacement. Things like video clipping, accessibility, and audio tools help me because of my vision loss. But I won’t let AI speak for me. If you’re using AI to avoid slowing down, it’s time to ask what’s really driving that.
Rev. Lyle:
How can people connect with you, and what wisdom would you leave us with?
Bethany B. Joy:
You can find me at BethanyBJoy.com. My encouragement is this. You can’t be authentic unless you know who you are in God’s image. Be still. Let God tell you who you are. That’s who people need to see.