By Tanya Lawrence, EA | The Christian Business
Last Updated: 10/12/2026
This is Part 2 of The Fig Tree Test. If you haven't read Part 1, Leaves vs. Fruit, start there.
What Should I Do When My Business Is Slow?
Slow seasons are real. But a slow season doesn't have to decide what your business produces.
When business is slow, respect the season. Plan for it, know your numbers, and expect the cycle. But don't let the season set your expectation. Instead of deciding ahead of time that there will be no fruit, look for the fruit that can still be produced in this season, and go after it.
I learned that from a fig tree.
"It Was Not the Season for Figs" (Mark 11:13)
"Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs." (Mark 11:13, NIV)
Mark doesn't hide it. He says it plainly: it was not the season for figs.
Jesus knew that. And He still walked over to the tree looking for fruit.
That catches my attention. If the season alone settled the matter, why approach the tree at all?
Part of the answer is the leaves. Fig trees in that region often put out small early fruit around the same time their leaves come in. So even before the main fig season, a tree in full leaf signaled that something should be there.
The season wasn't the whole story.
What I Believe This Teaches Business Owners
I think this is the part of the passage most of us skip over.
Jesus acknowledged the season. And He still looked for fruit.
So the lesson isn't that seasons don't exist. Mark tells us they do.
In my opinion, the lesson is this:
You can recognize the season without letting the season determine your expectation.
The economy can be uncertain. Business naturally has cycles. There are slower months and busier months.
But I don't have to decide ahead of time that there will be no fruit simply because this isn't normally the season for it. The calendar doesn't have the final word over what can happen in my business.
My Excuse: "It's Not Tax Season"
I'm in the tax prep business. So I have slow seasons.
And my excuse is always the same: Well, it's not tax season.
That sentence is true. Tax season really is our busy time. But somewhere along the way, it stopped being a description and started being an excuse.
This verse tells me that Jesus expected fruit in a season that wasn't giving fruit. So I'm working to get out of that excuse.
Is It Normal for Business to Be Slow This Time of Year?
Yes. Many businesses have predictable cycles. Tax businesses slow down after filing deadlines. Some service businesses slow down around the holidays. Weather slows down construction and landscaping.
Normal doesn't have to mean fruitless, though.
The danger is when it's that time of year stops being an observation and becomes a plan. When that happens, we stop looking for fruit before we even walk over to the tree.
Is My Business Slow Because of the Season, or Because of Me?
This is the honest question most owners never ask. Here's how I'd check:
1. Is this slower than the same months last year? Compare your actual numbers, not your feelings.
2. Did I stop doing things that produce fruit? Following up, asking for referrals, and reaching out to past clients often stop first, because we assume nobody is buying.
3. Is there work I always say I'll do "when things slow down"? Things are slow now.
4. Am I filling slow days with leaves? Busy work feels productive in a slow month. Part 1 of this series covers how to tell the difference.
5. Have I already decided this month will be bad? If so, I've let the season set my expectation.
How to Look for Fruit in a Slow Season
1. Respect the season by planning for it.
Know which months are slow. Set money aside during the busy months. Budget for the slower ones. Respecting the season means preparing for it, not surrendering to it.
2. Make a list of fruit that's possible right now.
Collecting old invoices. Reaching out to past clients. Asking happy clients for referrals. Finishing projects that keep getting pushed back. Building systems that make your busy season more profitable. Offering work that isn't tied to your peak months.
3. Pick one fruit goal for this month.
Not ten. One. Write it down and check it every week.
4. Use the slow time to cut leaves.
Slow seasons are a great time to look at what's eating your time and money without producing anything.
5. Stop announcing the slow season.
If you keep telling everyone that this month is always dead, you'll start running your business like it is. That's what Part 3 of this series is about.
What This Does Not Mean
• It doesn't mean seasons aren't real. Mark says plainly it wasn't the season for figs. Slow months are part of business.
• It doesn't mean a slow month is your fault or a sign of weak faith. Seasons happen to faithful, hardworking owners too.
• It doesn't mean your slow month will look like your busy month. Expecting fruit is not the same as expecting your peak season all year long.
• It doesn't mean you skip planning. Respecting the season includes saving during the busy months.
• It doesn't mean you can never rest. A slower season can be a good time to rest. The point is not to work nonstop. It's to stop assuming nothing good can happen until the calendar changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for business to be slow this time of year?
Yes. Most businesses have slower and busier months. Normal doesn't have to mean fruitless, though. The key is to respect the cycle without letting it decide what you expect from your business.
Why is my business so slow right now?
Sometimes it's the season. Sometimes the season becomes the excuse. Compare your numbers to the same months last year, and check whether you've stopped doing things that bring in work, like follow-ups and referrals.
What does the Bible say about slow seasons in business?
The Bible acknowledges seasons. In Mark 11:13, Mark says plainly that it was not the season for figs. Yet Jesus still walked over to the tree looking for fruit. I believe that shows we can recognize a season without letting it set our expectations.
How do I make money during the slow season?
Start with fruit that's possible right now: collect old invoices, contact past clients, ask for referrals, finish delayed projects, and offer work that isn't tied to your busy months. Pick one goal for the month and track it weekly.
Should I rest or work harder during a slow season?
Both can be right. A slower season can be a good time to rest. But resting is different from deciding ahead of time that nothing can happen. Rest on purpose, and look for fruit on purpose.
How do I prepare my business for the slow season?
Know which months are slow, set money aside during busy months, and plan the work you'll focus on before the slow season starts. Preparing for a season is how you respect it.
Respect the Season. Expect the Fruit.
Jesus acknowledged the season, and He still looked for fruit.
I'm learning to do the same. Yes, there are slow months in my business. But I don't have to decide ahead of time that there will be no fruit.
I can respect the season. I can plan for it. And I can still walk over to the tree.
I am willing to expect fruit, even in an unexpected season.
In Part 3, I'll talk about what happened after Jesus spoke to that tree, and what it taught me about the words I speak over my own business.
Until next time, go build the business God put in your heart. Build with faith, lead with purpose, and most importantly, expect good things.