How to Find Rest in God While Hustling

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Do you know how to find rest in God while hustling? I didn’t either, at first.

It was the summer of 2017 when I finally admitted to myself that I was drowning. There I was, laptop balanced precariously on my knees at 11:30 pm, three empty tea mugs scattered around my living room, frantically trying to finish client work that was due the next morning.

My prayer journal hadn’t been opened in weeks.

My Bible app showed a streak of exactly zero days. The devotional books I’d purchased with such good intentions gathered dust on my bedside table while I chased deadlines and PayPal notifications.

“This is what success looks like,” I told myself, even as exhaustion crept into my bones and anxiety tightened around my chest like a vice. I was building my business, providing for my family, and living the “girl boss” dream that filled my Instagram feed.

But something was terribly wrong. In my pursuit of productivity, I had forgotten how to find rest in God—the very foundation that had always sustained me.

That night became my turning point. As tears mixed with keyboard clicks, I realised I needed to rediscover what it truly means to rest in the Lord while still answering the call to work diligently in the world He’s placed me in.

If you’re a woman constantly toggling between your faith and your to-do list, wondering if it’s even possible to honour both without burning out, this post is for you. I’ve walked that tightrope, fallen off it more times than I care to admit, and found practical ways to genuinely rest in Christ while still pursuing the work God has called you to do.

Let me share what I’ve learned about finding true balance and peace in the midst of our busy, demanding lives.

Table of Contents show

The Hustle Culture vs. Kingdom Culture

Before I get into the practical ways I’ve found to balance hustle with resting in God, let me address the elephant in the room. We live in a society that glorifies the hustle.

The 5 am club.

That side gig.

The constant productivity.

That never-ending to-do lists.

Meanwhile, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

These two realities often feel at odds with each other, don’t they? As if we must choose between being productive members of society and finding rest in the Lord. But I’ve discovered that this is a false dichotomy.

God doesn’t call us to laziness, nor does He call us to burnout. There’s a beautiful middle ground where we can be both diligent and restful while being productive and peaceful.

So here are the seven ways I’ve learned to find rest in God while hustling in a demanding world.

Redefine What “Rest in Christ” Actually Means

For years, I misunderstood what resting in God truly meant. I thought it was exclusively about those quiet moments with a Bible on my lap and a cup of tea in hand. Don’t get me wrong. Those moments are precious.

But I’ve since discovered that resting in the Lord is far more than a scheduled activity.

It’s a heart posture.

Resting in Jesus means acknowledging that He is sovereign over my business deals and client relationships. It’s trusting that He’s working through my efforts, not just despite them.

Resting in Christ means allowing my work itself to become an act of worship.

Practical Step:

Each morning, before opening my laptop, I now pray a simple prayer: “Lord, this work is Yours. I am Your vessel today. Help me to abide in You even as I type these emails and join these calls.“

Schedule Margin Like Your Soul Depends on It (Because It Does)

One of my biggest mistakes was filling every available moment with productivity. No white space. No breathing room.

Certainly no time to hear God’s whisper.

What does it mean to rest in the Lord if we never stop long enough to hear Him? I now firmly believe that margin in our calendars is a spiritual discipline as much as a productivity hack.

Practical Step:

I now schedule 20-minute buffer zones around meetings and block off one afternoon per week as “holy ground“.This is time that won’t be sacrificed to the gods of productivity but reserved for resting in God’s presence, whether that looks like prayer, a walk in nature, or simply sitting in silence.

Invite God into Your Work, Not Just Your Devotional Time

For too long, I compartmentalised my life: work here, faith there. But finding rest in God means integrating Him into every aspect of your life including your hustle.

Now I see my work as a collaborative effort with the Holy Spirit. Whether I’m designing a presentation, writing an email, or leading a class, I’m constantly asking, “Lord, what would you have me say here? How can I represent Your kingdom in this task?“

Practical Step:

I’ve begun to pray through my to-do list each morning, surrendering each task to God and asking for His wisdom. This simple practice transforms my perspective from “I must do everything” to “We’re doing this together.”

Establish Non-Negotiable Sabbath Rhythms

When I was at my most burnt out, the concept of Sabbath felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford. Now I understand it’s a command I can’t afford to ignore.

Resting in God requires intentional, regular patterns of stopping. Full stop.

Not working.

No producing.

Not achieving.

Just being.

And trusting that the world will continue spinning if I pause my hustle for 24 hours.

Practical Step:

I’ve established a Sunday evening to Monday evening Sabbath that is absolutely sacred. My laptop stays closed. My phone goes on do-not-disturb.

And I focus on rest, worship, community, and simply enjoying God’s presence without producing anything.

Replace Productivity Metrics with Faithfulness Metrics

Perhaps the most transformative shift in my journey toward resting in peace with God while still hustling has been changing how I measure success.

I used to track income, followers, subscribers, and client growth obsessively. Those numbers determined my worth and my stress level.

Now, I ask different questions: Was I faithful today? Did I work with integrity? Have I love the people God placed in my path? Did I listen for His voice in my decisions?

Practical Step:

At the end of each workday, I journal about three questions:

How did I experience God’s presence today?

In what ways did I serve others?

Where did I need to trust God more?

These questions reorient my heart toward what truly matters.

Create Space for Lament and Wrestling

Resting in God doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine when it isn’t. The Psalms are full of honest lament, questions, and even complaints to God. Yet this raw honesty is itself a form of trusting Him enough to bring our true selves.

When work is hard, when clients disappoint, or when financial stress mounts, bring it all to God. What does it mean to rest in God if not to bring our whole selves, struggles and all, into His presence?

Practical Step:

I’ve started keeping a “wrestling prayer journal” where I can be brutally honest with God about my fears, frustrations, and disappointments in my work. There’s something deeply restful about not having to pretend.

Build a Faith-Centred Community of Working Women

Finally, I’ve found that resting in Christ is not meant to be a solo endeavour. We need others who understand the unique challenges of balancing faith and hustle, who can remind us of truth when we forget, and who can model what it looks like to find rest in God while still pursuing excellence in their work.

Practical Step:

I meet, online, every few months with three other Christian business owners where we share struggles, pray for each other’s work challenges, and hold each other accountable to prioritising our relationship with God amidst busy seasons.

Final Thoughts

Find your rhythm of rest and hustle.

How do you rest in God while keeping up with the demands of modern life? It’s a journey, not a destination. Some days I feel the perfect balance, while other days I still find myself drifting toward either laziness or frenetic activity.

But God’s grace meets me in both places.

The beauty of learning how to find rest in God is that it’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. His with us, and ours with Him, even in the midst of spreadsheets, school, and social media schedules.

That night in 2017, crying over my laptop, I couldn’t have imagined the peace that would come from surrendering my hustle to the One who promises true rest. Not the absence of work, but the infusion of work with His presence and purpose.

If you’re struggling to find that balance today, know that resting in Jesus isn’t about doing less—it’s about abiding more. It’s about remembering that your worth isn’t tied to your productivity but to your identity as His beloved daughter.

So take a deep breath, sister. Your work matters. And your rest in God matters just as much.

What about you? Which of these practices might help you find rest in God while still pursuing the work He’s called you to? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Reminder: Even Jesus withdrew to quiet places to pray and rest, despite having the most important mission in history. You are not called to constant productivity, but to faithful presence with the God who loves you and the people He’s placed in your care.

Happy thriving.