Trusting God in the Grind: What’s Really Driving Your Schedule

by Andy Befort

It’s often in the middle of our most intense seasons that the conversation about margin becomes the most real. Not theoretical. Not aspirational. But painfully practical.

Margin, for many of us, isn’t something we stumble upon—it’s something God forces us to face through suffering, responsibility, and obedience. And if there’s one simple equation I’ve come to believe, it’s this:

Suffering + Prayer = Endurance and Character ÷ Trust in Jesus = The Margin of the CoVo Multiplier

This isn’t abstract for me. It’s been forged in real decisions, real losses, and real trust.

Margin Through Trust

Over the years, I’ve learned that trusting God with my work—especially my business—has been the most practical way I’ve found margin. I take pride in what I do, and for a long time, that pride was a double-edged sword. In agriculture, the work never ends. There’s always another job. Another fire to put out. Another animal to tend. But God keeps reminding me that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He invites me to trust Him with mine.

There have been times when, in obedience to something eternal—a gospel conversation, a neighbor in need, a moment with my wife or kids—I’ve walked away from the immediate demands of the work. And yes, I’ve lost animals because of it. Missed tasks. Paid real costs.

But I believe this: If God wanted me to have what I lost, He would have preserved it.

That doesn’t give me license to neglect what’s in front of me. I’m called to be diligent and faithful. But it does mean that when the Kingdom calls, I trust that obedience is worth whatever it costs. It’s a hard word, but a freeing one.

Practical Rhythms That Create Margin

Creating margin—or rather, cooperating with God as He creates it—has required practical steps, too. These aren’t glamorous, but they’ve been essential:

1. Wake up early. If I sleep in, I feel it. I lose traction, not just time.

   
   

2. Make decisions quickly. The longer I delay, the more mental and emotional space they take up.

   
   

3. Deal with issues in the moment. Whether it’s doctoring a sick calf or fixing a fence, procrastination often leads to longer, more costly problems.

   
   

4. Know your real priorities. In agriculture: food, water, health. In life: people, prayer, eternity.

   
   

5. Respond sober-mindedly. Reacting emotionally burns more time than it saves.

   
   

6. Learn what can wait. Not everything is urgent. Discernment comes through experience.

   
   

Over time, experience trains intuition. And intuition helps make space for what matters most.

The Real Barriers to Margin

I’ve come to see that margin isn’t just squeezed by time—it’s often suffocated by unseen beliefs. Coming from an ag background, many of these barriers have been shaped by the culture of the land. But the truths apply broadly. Whether you’re in farming, finance, or full-time ministry, most of us face the same realities in different clothes.

One of the first barriers is identity confusion. When your sense of worth is tied to how much you produce, margin feels like laziness. The tractor doesn’t applaud you for slowing down. The spreadsheet doesn’t affirm your rest. And before long, your soul is yoked to performance. You serve God with your lips, but serve work with your time.

Another barrier is fear of letting people down. You carry the weight of being dependable. And that’s not a bad thing—until it becomes bondage. Saying “no” feels like betrayal. Rest feels like rebellion. We spiritualize exhaustion and call it sacrifice. But it’s really avoidance of trust.

Then there’s the myth of balance. We try to “balance” everything, as if life is a perfect scale. But Kingdom living is not about balance—it’s about obedience. Jesus didn’t live a balanced life. He lived a surrendered one. And surrender requires saying yes to what matters most, not juggling what feels urgent.

Finally, there’s the culture of hustle. Especially in environments that demand grit—like agriculture or entrepreneurship—the hustle is a badge of honor. But the badge often becomes a burden. You work harder to prove something Jesus already settled: you’re loved, you’re called, and your worth isn’t earned—it’s entrusted.

Margin begins when you confront these beliefs. Not with tips and tricks, but with truth: You are not what you do. You are not what you control. You are not what you protect. You are what He declares.

The Trap of Worshiping Work

One of the biggest barriers I see for people who want to labor for Christ—especially in the world of agriculture—is the pull to worship the work. The very environment that shapes strong, dependable men can also entrap them. I know many men who genuinely love Jesus and desire to share the gospel, but they’re buried in the unrelenting demands of the ranch, the field, or the job site. And the culture around them applauds the hustle—even when it’s killing them spiritually.

The truth is: the work is a tool, not a god. It can be used to forge faith, form character, and provide for others—but it must be surrendered.

Balancing An Imperfect Scale

So how do we balance it all? I don’t have a perfect answer. But I’ve learned that it starts with letting go of the illusion that I’m in control. Trusting Jesus with everything—even the losses. And choosing, over and over again, to say “yes” to what matters eternally, even when it means saying “no” to what feels urgent.

Margin isn’t the absence of effort. It’s the presence of trust.

And in the life of a covocational laborer, that trust is what multiplies everything..

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Want to know more about living an intentional covocational life for the Kingdom? This is a great starting place, a community walking together….