We already looked at how our dogs can remind us to not to worry about things (link) they have faith in us that we will provide their needs and so too do we need to have faith in God that He will provide our needs. Looking at our dogs are great reminders at how we should be.
What is your hope in?
Before you say what you think you should say, stop and think about it, practically what is your hope in?
When the stock market crashed and you lost a fair bit of your savings were you worried?
Is your house in negative equity
(or underwater/upside down if you are in the US) are you losing sleep over it?
When the financial markets are doing well do you have peace, and when they don’t are you worried?
Following on from our last talk, I will share that since we have been married we have known: unemployment twice, once for an extended period of time, financial struggles, just pay our bills but didn’t know how we would get through Christmas many years, worrying about bills, job insecurity, job security, some money over each month from paying the bills so we could save a bit, not gone on any holiday for years, to being able to save up over years to go on holiday to see our family.
For at least a couple of years, we have been in negative equity. The house three doors down from us is in foreclosure (one of six in our development) and is on sale for nearly 50% less than what we bought our home for. To make it worse, it’s been up for sale for over 3 months and it still hasn’t sold.
I know part of the reason why we have gone through financial hard times, is that a lot of people have financial struggles, so we then can identify with them. We have proved through it all, that our hope isn’t in material things, it’s in Jesus. It’s not easy going through financial hard times (I have had my moments!) but sometimes it is freeing seeing our finances so fickle, as we realise we can’t trust in money to get us through life as it can be gone tomorrow. We know only God can save us from sin, but sometimes we have to remind ourselves that God is where we put our trust – our everyday needs, our spiritual, our practical trust.
Money can come and go, but there is one who never changes and will always be with you, helping you through whatever you face – God. Paul learned this secret -
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11
Look at the word “learned” Paul had to learn this; we all have to learn it. Some are faster learners than others! It’s not money that gives us peace, only in God can we say “we have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
There are days that I am still learning, it might not be in financial matters anymore but hopefully in every situation that arises I am a quick learner, and leave it with God.
So is your hope in your retirement fund, savings or is it in God?
What is your hope in?
Before you say what you think you should say, stop and think about it, practically what is your hope in?
When the stock market crashed and you lost a fair bit of your savings were you worried?
Is your house in negative equity
(or underwater/upside down if you are in the US) are you losing sleep over it?
When the financial markets are doing well do you have peace, and when they don’t are you worried?
Following on from our last talk, I will share that since we have been married we have known: unemployment twice, once for an extended period of time, financial struggles, just pay our bills but didn’t know how we would get through Christmas many years, worrying about bills, job insecurity, job security, some money over each month from paying the bills so we could save a bit, not gone on any holiday for years, to being able to save up over years to go on holiday to see our family.
For at least a couple of years, we have been in negative equity. The house three doors down from us is in foreclosure (one of six in our development) and is on sale for nearly 50% less than what we bought our home for. To make it worse, it’s been up for sale for over 3 months and it still hasn’t sold.
I know part of the reason why we have gone through financial hard times, is that a lot of people have financial struggles, so we then can identify with them. We have proved through it all, that our hope isn’t in material things, it’s in Jesus. It’s not easy going through financial hard times (I have had my moments!) but sometimes it is freeing seeing our finances so fickle, as we realise we can’t trust in money to get us through life as it can be gone tomorrow. We know only God can save us from sin, but sometimes we have to remind ourselves that God is where we put our trust – our everyday needs, our spiritual, our practical trust.
Money can come and go, but there is one who never changes and will always be with you, helping you through whatever you face – God. Paul learned this secret -
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11
Look at the word “learned” Paul had to learn this; we all have to learn it. Some are faster learners than others! It’s not money that gives us peace, only in God can we say “we have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
There are days that I am still learning, it might not be in financial matters anymore but hopefully in every situation that arises I am a quick learner, and leave it with God.
So is your hope in your retirement fund, savings or is it in God?
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