If you’re feeling weary today, I want to offer you a little encouragement in the form of 15 Bible verses about working hard. Why? Because I’ve been hearing a lot about the importance of rest lately in the online space. It seems as though many of the content creators and ministry leaders I follow are being called to a season of rest right now.
And I think that’s amazing! There comes a time when we all need space to recharge, lean into Jesus privately, and discover what He wants to teach us.
Unfortunately for me (haha), God hasn’t called me to rest at this point in my life. In fact, quite the opposite. I feel like He’s calling me to keep going, dig deeper, and finally do the things He’s been pushing me toward for so long. For me, now is a time to run my race full-speed ahead.
So, before we get to the Bible verses I want to highlight today, let’s talk about what that looks like and how to do it in a way that truly honors God.
The Cliff Notes
Hard work is Biblical and honors God.
Working hard for the Lord doesn’t mean we have to do everything all the time. Instead, it’s about our heart posture and priorities.
To work diligently without burning out, we must release control and ask for God’s help. We have to rely on His strength rather than our own.
We can humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer, confess any sins that might be hindering our relationship with Him, give everything to Him with open hands, and ask Him to fill us with His strength, joy, and peace.
How Do We Work Hard without Burning Out?
Let’s be honest here: running the race God has for us isn’t always easy. So often, I want to throw in the towel and whine and complain to God that things are too hard, that what He’s asking of me is too much.
And it is: motherhood, marriage, client work, writing, building a ministry, volunteering at church, keeping my home clean (or, at the very least, livable), kids’ extracurriculars, being a good friend and sister and daughter….all of it is too much for one person.
When I put it all down on paper, there just literally aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish all the things I want and need to accomplish.
What I’m learning is that’s OK! God never intended for us to carry the weight of life — whatever that looks like — alone. I’m here to tell you all things truly are possible with God.
But if you’re anything like me, you try to do all things on your own more often than not. We write to-do lists, read motivational books, research different ways to get more done…all in the name of honoring God with the work of our hands.
Wearing ourselves out to the point of ineffectiveness is not honoring God. (That’s where the idea of Biblical rest comes in, but we’ll talk about that another day.)
We know that God values hard work, as we’ll see in the Bible verses below, but how do we manage to be diligent in every area of our lives without burning out? Because burnout is a very real issue, and if we work to the point of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion day after day, eventually our bodies will quit on us and we won’t be any good to anybody.
What God’s been teaching me lately is that working hard for the Lord doesn’t mean I have to do everything all the time. Instead, it’s about my heart posture and priorities. What’s more, I can’t rely on my own strength to accomplish anything at all because when I do, I fall short. Every time.
When I work from my own capacity, I get exhausted, stressed out, anxious, and bitter. My responsibilities become a heavy burden rather than a blessing. I tend to forget all the amazing things God’s done in my life and, instead, focus only on everything I’m failing at.
That’s not what God wants, and that’s not what He means all the times He tells us in His word to work as if working for Him.
The Solution
So what’s the answer? Obviously, we have to physically do the things, right?
I’m sure if you’ve been in the Christian space for any amount of time, you’ve heard people say to rely on God’s strength instead of yours, but what does that actually mean?
I’ve got good news. It’s not nearly as complicated as we make it out to be. In fact, it’s pretty simple. Not easy, mind you, but simple.
We release control and ask for God’s help. And then we trust Him to actually help us.
Really. That’s all there is to it. We humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer, confess any sins that might be hindering our relationship with Him, give everything to Him with open hands, and ask Him to fill us with His strength, joy, and peace.
These things can only come from Him. Sure, we can find counterfeit versions of them, but they won’t last. True, soul-deep strength, joy, and peace can only be found in Jesus.
It sounds too basic, I know. But I’ve personally experienced the way this simple prayer and attitude can change my life.
At times, I’ve gone from feeling like I’m drowning and dreading every area of “work” I’m responsible for to joyfully fulfilling my duties, completing tasks with a smile on my face, and actually wanting to do the dishes and the laundry and the million other things I’m confronted with every day.
Yes, you read that right. When my strength comes from Jesus, I want to do dishes and laundry. Only the Lord can make that happen, y’all.
But here’s the thing: this isn’t a one-time solution. It’s something we have to practice every single day. And we won’t get it right all the time.
Do I still have days when I fall back into the habit of rushing and running ahead without stopping to spend time with Jesus? Of course. Do those days usually get the best of me and turn me into the worst of me? Absolutely.
But you know what? The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning. Each new day, new hour, new minute is a chance to start again. To bow before Jesus and give it another go. Not in our power, but in His.
And when you’re struggling, turn to His word. Here are some verses to get you started.
Bible Verses about Working Hard
1) Proverbs 10:4
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
2) Proverbs 12:25
“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.”
3) Proverbs 21:5
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
4) Galatians 6:9
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
5) Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
6) Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
7) 2 Thessalonians 3:10
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
8) Proverbs 14:23
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
9) 1 Corinthians 10:31
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
10) Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
11) Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
12) Isaiah 40:29-31
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
13) 2 Corinthians 12:9
“But He [Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
14) Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
15) Matthew 6:31-33
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or “What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Working with the Lord
I pray these Bible verses about working hard and about God’s provision have encouraged you today. Remember that what God desires most is our heart, not our outcomes. When we truly give Him all of us, He’ll give us the strength and grace we need to live the life He’s called us to.
If you need a little more encouragement, check out my pocket devotional Read. Pray. Act.: How to Overcome Discouragement & Follow God's Plan for Your Life.
And if you’re wanting to take up journaling, the Read. Pray. Act.: Daily Prayer & Gratitude Journal with Prompts is a great place to start! It gives space for 100 days to grow closer to God, align your desires with His will for your life, and become more content in the waiting.