In this powerful and personal reflection, Catherine Gates, 4word’s VP of Programs, unpacks a truth that many Christian professionals overlook: God never asked us to do our work for Him—He invites us to do it with Him. Drawing on Scripture and her own journey of unlearning self-reliance, Catherine reveals how partnership with God is the key to lasting peace, sustainable excellence, and spiritual fulfillment at work. Whether you’re battling burnout or chasing purpose, this blog will leave you asking: What might shift if I stopped striving alone and started working with God?

Years ago, I had a revelation that transformed how I view my work: God’s Word is relevant to our work and offers guidance on how to pursue excellence in every circumstance. Even with that understanding, I still find myself struggling to let God lead. After more than 30 years of believing everything depended on me—my skills, effort, and willingness to push through—it’s not easy to undo such an entrenched mindset. But one thing is clear: if I want to glorify God, I must do my work with Him.

That little word—with—has caught my attention in recent months.

When the angel Gabriel told Mary she would become pregnant with God’s Son, she asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Gabriel replied, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). And when the disciples were stunned by Jesus’s words that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

With God.

For so long, I focused on the “God” part—believing He could do anything on His own. And of course, He can. But I overlooked something crucial: Scripture emphasizes not just God’s power, but our partnership with Him. God doesn’t plan to do everything solo. He chooses to work through us.

Mary had a critical role in bringing Jesus into the world. The disciples had to leave their comfort zones, follow Jesus, learn from Him, and share the gospel—often at great personal cost. From the very beginning, problems started when Adam and Eve believed they could be like God and live independently from Him. But we weren’t created to do life—which includes work—on our own. The fallout from that decision still impacts us today. Working apart from God is not only ineffective, it’s exhausting.

This is why Jesus invites us, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Most of us are operating by the world’s standards—constantly striving, always “on,” pouring ourselves out until we’re bone-dry. Burnout, anyone?

The weight the world places on us is one we were never meant to carry. Jesus calls us to walk with Him—to lean on Him for wisdom, strength, and guidance. Sabbath rest isn’t just about recovery; it’s a declaration of trust that God is still at work even when we’re not.

Jesus tells us clearly: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing… but if you remain in Me… you will bear much fruit” (John 15:4-5). Abiding in Christ leads to greater impact than any 80-hour workweek—and it doesn’t come with burnout.

So how do we work with God?

• Start each day, project, and meeting by seeking God (Matthew 6:33). Just as you wouldn’t begin a meeting without an agenda, start your day by inviting God into your plans: “Lord, I give this day to You. Lead me.”
• Acknowledge God’s presence throughout the day (Proverbs 3:5-6). Instead of powering through your to-do list, pause—even for 30 seconds—to remember: God is with you.
• Ask God for help (Philippians 4:6-7). When challenges arise, don’t go straight into problem-solving mode. Start with prayer: “Lord, this doesn’t surprise You. Show me what to do.”

From the beginning, God designed us to walk with Him. Jesus—Immanuel, “God with us”—came to teach, heal, redeem, and model a life fully dependent on the Father. After His resurrection, He gave us the Holy Spirit so we could continue living in that same divine partnership.

Our part is to turn to Him, seek His wisdom, listen, and obey. When we do, we’ll witness God accomplish far more through us than we ever could have done on our own. And the only fitting response is to give Him praise!

Catherine Gates is a speaker, writer, and leader in the faith and work movement. She is passionate about helping people achieve more of their God-given potential with confidence by integrating faith into every area of life. Her career journey has been diverse and circuitous, ranging from software consulting, to project management, marketing and sales, and leadership training, to nonprofit leadership. She has been helping people integrate their faith and work since 2013.

Catherine is the author of The Confidence Cornerstone: A Woman’s Guide to Fearless Leadership. She has contributed to several faith-and-work Bible studies, numerous YouVersion reading plans, and books from other authors including the iWork4Him and sheWorks4Him publications. Catherine is on the steering committee for the National Faith & Work Association (NFWA.org) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian Leadership.