Becoming Stable When Your World Feels Unstable
The year was 2009, and I was standing at the kitchen counter, preparing dinner, as usual when my man and I were discussing our current financial dilemma. Our problem of the day? We couldn’t afford to pay our rent. It wasn’t as if we were out spending money left and right because that certainly wasn’t the case. The problem was his income wasn’t enough. Actually, that’s putting it nicely. He was more like unemployed rather than self-employed. Then he asked me something I’ll never forget.
“Don’t you ever long for stability?”
I laughed at his question and then replied, “No offense, but I gave up on looking to you for financial stability a long time ago. It’s the Lord I seek the financial stability from, and I already have it. In fact, our life couldn’t get any more stable because it’s built on the Rock!”
Of course through the world’s eyes if one were to look at our dire financial situation they’d think we were a bunch of religious fanatics. Well, they’d be almost right. However, I prefer the term, “Jesus Freaks.”
Mind you, I didn’t say those words to my man with the intention of insulting or offending him; my reasoning was quite the contrary. I shared my direct viewpoint with him because one, he’s a man and he speaks and hears ‘direct language.’
And two, as his sister in the Lord, I wanted to encourage him, challenge him, and remind him to have a biblical viewpoint regarding our financial stability. After all, as God’s little sheep, we sometimes forget that our Shepherd is always with us. Plus, as his wife, I wanted my Beloved to know that I did not want to add any more pressure to the weight that he was already carrying on his shoulders. I still valued him, respected him, and loved him just as much that day as the day I married him. I didn’t want our financial turmoil to define our commitment and love towards one another because I knew if I did, it would destroy our marriage.
If you’ve missed my earlier post in this series, you can read the 3 Root Issues that Cause Us to Freak Out Over Finances. In this post, you’ll get a glimpse into what I’ve lived through and what the Lord taught me regarding this important topic.
So when your bank account says $0, you have bills to pay, and you have no income, yes, according to the world’s standards you are financially broke. Fear sets in, just a little. Okay, who am I kidding? It’s a whole dang lot, and you can become terrified of what’s ahead! However, I am a child of God, and when I read the King of kings words this is what it says:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
So how do we reconcile the ways of this world (and meeting our basic necessities) with the Word of God?
Here’s what I’ve learned…
Resting in our educations, our careers, the corporate ladders that we seek to climb, and the businesses that we build can easily lead us to a false sense of financial security. Are these pursuits bad? No, but sometimes our perspective of these pursuits bring us more financial instability than we realize.
We have the tendency to put more faith in these institutions, achievements, and successes rather than putting our faith in the Lord. When we do these things we get caught up in the ways of the world and ultimately when our world comes crashing down, whether it’s a job loss, failing business, a broken marriage, or loss of health, we become gripped with fear.
Being that I had that fear, I headed back to the Word of God for guidance throughout our years of financial drought. What I found in the Bible was counsel and encouragement that was contrary to how we’ve been conditioned by the world regarding our financial security.
The world says with a great job, 401k, large savings, etc. you’ll be set for life so make sure to pursue these things. But this is what the Bible says:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV
2 Things Needed to Become Stable
‘All these things’ in the above verse are referring to the things we need to live. Food, clothing, shelter, etc. So, where do we get these things? The Bible’s system, not the world’s, says by seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. (I’m assuming someone in your home is working. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10)
Anyways, here’s the beauty of the above passage. Jesus is the one speaking and at the beginning of it in Matthew 6:30 this is what he says:
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:30-34 NLT
This scripture passage is the key to becoming more spiritually and emotionally stable when your financial world is falling apart. I listed the passage in the NLT because I loved how it used the word ‘unbeliever.’ The NKJV says the ‘Gentile.’ In this passage, Jesus makes a reference to the ‘Gentile/Unbeliever’ and what they pursue and worry about because they don’t know the Lord. But we do know the Lord. Yet, how many times do we act like an Unbeliever over our financial situation?
I know I have acted like an Unbeliever more times than I care to admit and quite frankly it has really bothered me. I am a child of the Most High God, and the last thing I should be doing is living my life in fear and acting like an Unbeliever. My Father already knows I need these things, so my role as his kid is to remain faithful. I do my part of working hard in the roles and responsibilities that are mine, and then wait for the Lord to move on our behalf.
Our security does not come from money; it comes from the Lord. All of our financial blessings come from Christ, and the sooner we can recognize and accept it is He who gives us every good and perfect gift, (James 1:17) then the better understanding we will have of how to deal with our fears regarding finances.
Do you realize that the chair you’re sitting in, the home you live in, and the food you eat all come from the Lord? Now you may think you’re the one who made all of this happen, but I’m here to tell you otherwise. It is Christ who has breathed life into you that has allowed you the ability to get those possessions. I know sometimes we get too big for our britches and we forget about the fact that we have a Creator. We did not acquire our resources and possessions all by ourselves. We did so because the Lord allowed the increase to take place in our lives.
Our resources and possessions are not ours. Everything we have belongs to the Lord.
Our resources and possessions bring us a false sense of security. It is Christ who is our True Provider.
As wives, we can diffuse a lot of our marital issues if we look to the Lord to be our Provider. In fact, He’ll always be much more competent, wiser, and healthier than our husbands, our husband’s employer, or our husband’s business ventures, and even the economy.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10
He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” Job 1:21
If you’re struggling in this area of your life, then I encourage you to meditate on the scriptures I’ve shared so as you go through your days, you’ll be filled with peace. And over time, your faith will continue to grow stronger, and thus, you’ll become more emotionally and spiritually stable.
Next up in this series I’m going to share 10 Ways a Wife Can Deal with Her Fears Regarding Finances.
Based on what I’ve shared, can you rest a bit more in Christ today? I do hope so.
Live a poured out life for Christ,
Jolene Engle
