The difference between working hard and striving

There’s nothing wrong with hard work.

In fact, it’s biblical.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” - Colossians 3:23

That’s why we need to work hard, to honor God.

Yet, many of us, including myself, take it way too far and we don’t even know it.

We think it’s normal, until we hit exhaustion, discouragement, or a feeling of defeat.

All of us would benefit to know the difference between working hard and striving.

Working hard is about stewardship.

It’s giving your best from a place of peace and purpose, not pressure and panic.

It’s partnering with God; not performing for approval.

Working hard is about:

Doing your best with what you've been given

Using your gifts and opportunities with excellence

Being faithful with all your responsibilities - including home and self-care

It’s working with God…not apart from Him.

Striving is different.

It looks similar on the surface…long hours, heavy effort, full schedule.

But the motive is different.

Striving is fear-based hustle. It's:

Believing “It’s all on me”

Hustling from a place of scarcity or anxiety

Operating out of comparison, control, or insecurity

Working to earn approval, not out of identity

Striving is working for validation - often without rest, without joy, and without trust in God.

It’s fueled by lies like:

“If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.”

​“I have to prove my worth.”

​“I can’t stop, or I’ll fall behind.”

Striving is self-reliance masked as ambition.

You might still get results... but you’ll be exhausted, anxious, and joyless.

And deep down, you’ll start to resent the very thing you once loved.

Here’s a table we created, so hopefully it will help you as well:

Where are you in this table?

Maybe you’ve been working hard this season.

Or maybe…you’ve been striving.

Take a breath.

Ask God to search your heart.

Let Him show you where fear has replaced faith - and where hustle has overtaken trust.

You can still work hard. But it doesn’t have to be heavy.

Because God has the night shift.

Working hard is biblical.

Striving is burdensome.

One honors God...

The other tries to be God.

Reflection questions:

Where in your life are you getting this right? You are working hard from a place of peace?

Where might you be striving from pressure or fear? What would it look like to release the outcome... and trust God with it?

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BTW - if you are a guy - join us in RISE. Join ~75 men as we take back our territory of what it looks like to be guys that win at both home and work. It's not either/or, it's both/and. Here is what guys are saying: