When Purpose Begins in Presence: The Root of Stewardship
The Illusion of “Holy Hustle”
If you’ve ever found yourself serving, striving, and still feeling spiritually empty, you’re not alone.
Many of us confuse holy hustle with holy alignment.
We convince ourselves that because what we’re doing is “for God,” it must be blessed by God.
But sometimes, even the right work can be done from the wrong posture.
Martha opened her home to Jesus, a beautiful act of service, yet she missed the invitation to sit in His presence.
She was doing good work, but she wasn’t being with the Good Shepherd.
Busyness can disguise itself as obedience, but it often leads us away from the stillness where revelation lives.
We end up exhausted, not because we’re out of time, but because we’re out of alignment.
What Mary Understood That Martha Missed
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:41–42 (CSB)
Mary wasn’t lazy. She was discerning.
She recognized that proximity to Jesus was more important than productivity for Jesus.
While Martha worried about appearances, Mary chose intimacy.
While Martha wanted everything perfect, Mary prioritized presence.
And when Jesus spoke, He didn’t rebuke Martha’s effort; He redirected it.
He reminded her that “only one thing is necessary.”
Mary found peace in listening, not in leading.
And that’s where true stewardship begins, not in activity, but in abiding.
Why Presence Clarifies Purpose
When you sit with God before you serve, you begin to see what actually matters.
Presence simplifies what performance complicates.
In His presence, confusion turns into clarity.
Striving gives way to strategy.
Distraction transforms into direction.
Because when you’re rooted in presence, purpose doesn’t have to be forced; it flows.
You begin to manage your life and assignments from revelation, not reaction.
That’s the heart of stewardship.
It’s not about doing more for God. It’s about doing only what He’s asked, with a heart that’s anchored in Him.
Take a quiet moment today and ask yourself:
What area of my life am I managing without God’s direction?
Is it your schedule, your business, your relationships, or maybe even your spiritual life?
Invite Him back into that space.
Because the root of stewardship is not movement, it’s surrender.
If this message spoke to you, it’s time to start rebuilding from the root.
Join the waitlist for the Steward Well Life Community — where we’re learning to steward purpose from presence, not pressure.
FAQ
-
A: Stewardship means managing what God has entrusted to you, your time, gifts, and purpose with wisdom and alignment. It’s not just about productivity; it’s about partnership with Him.
-
A: If your work feels heavy, rushed, or disconnected from peace, you might be performing. Partnership produces fruit through rest and trust, not burnout or fear.
-
A: It’s a faith-based space for Christian women learning to align their goals, gifts, and growth with God’s presence. Together, we practice stewardship across every area of life rooted in grace, not grind.
-
A: Because purpose is revealed in stillness, not in striving. Sitting with God helps you discern what He’s actually asking of you — so you can stop running in circles and start walking in clarity.
Written by Telanna Jeffers, founder of Purpose Minded Woman and the Steward Well Life Community, based in the United States. Telanna equips high-capacity, faith-driven women to manage their calling with grace-based productivity. Through her signature Stewardship Path and Cycle of Transformation Framework, where inner transformation meets outer stewardship, she helps Christian women align their hearts and habits to live a life of purpose, peace, and partnership with God.
