How to build a business with grace, not grind
I know what it’s like to chase dreams while carrying a full plate—running a comfort food business, homeschooling, managing work at my church, and still trying to be present for my family. The pressure to hustle is real. But I’ve learned the hard way that hustle culture doesn’t always align with God’s culture.
The Problem with Hustle Culture
Our world glorifies the grind—late nights, early mornings, “no days off.” It’s easy to believe that if we’re not exhausted, we’re not doing enough. But that’s not how God calls us to build.
Jesus Himself says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” If Jesus invites us into rest, why are we so obsessed with running ourselves into the ground?
So, how do we shift from a hustle mentality to a grace-filled approach?
1. Align Your Work with God’s Purpose
Before making any business decision—whether it’s launching a new service, expanding, or even saying yes to a client—I take it to prayer. I ask: Is this aligned with my calling? Will this glorify God, or just glorify busy-ness?
When I first started my comfort food business, I was doing everything—cooking, marketing, accounting, deliveries. It wasn’t sustainable. I had to step back and ask God for clarity. That’s when I realized: I didn’t have to chase every opportunity. I had to steward the right ones.
👉 Resource: If you struggle with decision fatigue, check out Jennie Allen’s book Get Out of Your Head. Highly recommend it!
2. Create Rhythms of Rest
In Genesis, God worked six days and rested on the seventh—not because He was tired, but to set an example for us. Rest is not a reward; it’s a rhythm.
For me, Sundays are non-negotiable. No catering orders. No work emails. Just church, family, and real rest. It took me years to give myself permission to slow down, but I’ve found that when I honor rest, I actually work better during the week.
3. Trust God with the Outcome
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that my effort is not what makes my business successful—God’s faithfulness is.
A few months ago, I felt the pressure to take on more catering events, even though I knew it would stretch me too thin. But I trusted that God would provide in other ways. And He did. I got a referral for a nonprofit partnership that was exactly what I needed—without overworking myself.
👉 Verse to Hold Onto: Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
Friend, if you’re feeling like you have to hustle harder to make things happen, let me remind you: You don’t have to build your business in your own strength. When you surrender your work to God, He will open the right doors—without requiring you to sacrifice your health, your family, or your faith.
Take a deep breath. Release the pressure. And trust that when you choose faith over hustle, you’ll build something far more meaningful than just success—you’ll build a life that honors God.
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Regina is a writer, homeschooling mom, and owner of a comfort food catering business. A contributor to several publications, she is also an advocate for young adults with developmental disabilities and serves on the Compel Pro volunteer leadership team. Living in Ohio with her family, she designs Squarespace websites for fellow creatives and spends her free time cheering her sons from the sidelines or sipping tea while chatting about God’s goodness with women.
