Financial struggles are a reality for most people. You can learn from these challenging times whether the problem is something you created or from an external source like an employer who laid you off or an extended hospital stay. Perhaps you invested in an opportunity that seemed to be sound but failed. Whatever the cause of your struggles, it is easy to blame yourself and feel that God is punishing you. What feels like punishment, however, may be God bringing you through a situation to draw you closer to Him.
Recently, I met with a client who shared that his passion for helping people facing food insecurities arose from a time when his finances were tight. The tenderness in his heart directly resulted from his own struggle with money. God saw him through that period and has blessed him, so now he can be a blessing to others. You can turn your personal struggles into a way to bless others.
If you are going through financial challenges, remember that they will not last forever. You may feel like you are in a pit you will never escape. Try asking God what He wants to show you through this struggle. Remember, many of us have walked through lean financial times.
Let’s look at what we can learn from financial challenges.
Ask For Help from God: Learn to depend more fully on God. God cares about every aspect of your life. He wants us to rely on Him entirely. He might even use your financial challenges to remind us that He is all we need. The Lord cares for you and will take care of you. Start by asking Him for what you need. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
Open Your Heart: Like the client I mentioned above, God uses your time of struggle to open your eyes to the needs of others. If you have experienced homelessness, God may call you to minister to the homeless. If you have been out of work for a time, God may call you to start a business and create jobs. God uses our experiences to give us the insights needed to help others currently in those situations.
Accept The Challenge: Realize that you may be able to live on much less than you had previously thought. Financial challenges force us to make changes to our budgets and lifestyles. You may need to cut premium television channels or not dine out to make ends meet. Rise to the challenge, and you will emerge stronger and able to live comfortably with fewer amenities than before.
Change Your Focus: If your financial challenges mean you must dine out less, embrace cooking at home with your spouse and children. If you must cut back on television and streaming services, pull out a deck of cards or board games and spend quality time with those you love. If your clothing budget has shrunk, make a game out of going to thrift stores to find gently used clothing items that you need. Financial struggles can reawaken your spirit to what is important and give you a better quality of life.
Search For Free: Learn to appreciate “free” activities and quality time with family. Many activities in life do not cost money that you may have overlooked when you had more discretionary spending. Check to see if your community offers free concerts in the park or movie nights; visit state and national historic sites; take bike rides around your neighborhood; attend VBS and other free activities put on by local churches; or spend an afternoon geocaching.
Receive Humbly: Humble yourself and accept help from others. No matter where you live, you should have access to a local food pantry that will provide food to help you during your down times. Local churches often distribute food at accessible locations throughout your community. Additionally, your local utility may have a program to help those struggling; our utility encourages its customers to donate a few dollars a month to help those in need. If you are struggling to pay rent, you may be able to get help from your church. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” God often uses others to meet our needs, but we must make our needs known.
Generate Gratitude: Develop an increased level of gratitude for all that you have and God has done for you. Financial struggles are not enjoyable. Yet, for most of us, they are short-lived. And even in our darkest times, we have much more than people in other countries. Try to focus on what you can afford rather than on what you do not have now.
If you are facing a financial struggle right now, please pray, ask God for help, and let others know of your need. If God is blesses you financially in this season, ask Him how you can bless others. Take a few minutes this week to reflect on what you have learned during past times of struggle. Thank God for His care for you, and consider how you can be His hands extended to others in need
Susan's Reflections 