I’m not entirely sure when, why, or how this came to be, but the idea of the grind became our ideology of success. The grind greatly differentiates itself from hard work or being anti-lazy. It’s up early and out late. It props the over-worked and under-rested on a pedestal. For the grind, being steadfast and determined isn’t enough. It has to be non-stop and obsessed.

The problem with this proposition is that it’s not sustainable, and for the believer, it’s dangerous. It praises the person and is dependent upon the power of an individual, but we praise and believe in the power of the Almighty.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

As followers of Jesus Christ we know that we can’t white-knuckle our way through life, but we try to do it anyway. We feel, and some of us would even say that we know and believe, God has given us dreams and desires and has called us to carry them out for the glory of His name. It’s strange though, after God gives us dreams and desires, the moment we feel like we have a direction, we don’t include God like the dream was His. We start to run with it like it’s ours. We rely on our own efforts and plans rather than resting in God’s providence.

As the Israelites were suffering through the Babylonian exile, God reminded them in Isaiah 43 of His providence and care by recounting what He had done for them through the Exodus and that He would do it again. In verse 19 God says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

God can split a sea to allow us to walk to the other side on dry ground, and He can carve out a river to give us the strength to continue on through the desert. What I’m trying to remind us of is this, we can make an effort, but God can make a way. Don’t exhaust yourself trying to force something to happen when you could be resting and trusting in what God will make happen. Our best efforts will never be as effective as God’s way, and God’s way is always better than our best efforts.

Don’t feel the need to make everything happen on your own. Actually, embrace and acknowledge that you can’t make everything happen on your own. God has never been afraid to show off His strength in our weakness or bring glory to His name. You can’t grind hard enough to manufacture the miracles that are necessary to do God’s work God’s way.

If we believe that when Jesus died on the cross, He made a way through sin, death, and the grave to give us new and eternal life in Him, we have to ask ourselves this question. If I trust God with my eternity, why can’t I trust Him with my circumstances, dreams, desires, and life?

Work hard. Proverbs is littered with promises for those who work diligently and consistently, but be just as diligent and consistent in your trust and faith in Jesus. He can do more through His hands than we can through ours.

Your friend,

- Luke

Luke Lezon grew up in Dallas, Texas before graduating from Texas A&M University. After graduating, Luke married his beautiful wife, Lindsey, and co-planted a church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. After pastoring there for two years, Luke and his wife moved to and currently live in Atlanta, Georgia where they help lead The Alternative. Luke is a creative, dynamic preacher and teacher of God's Word with a palpable love for people.

Luke's first book, Your Mess Matters, released with Zondervan in November of 2019. His sermons and writings have been shared thousands of times across many different platforms. Above all, he is passionate about seeing others come to know Jesus and make Him known.

Luke is a coffee connoisseur, sports and film fanatic, and fur-parent to his and his wife's favorite and only child, Knox.