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| It's a new day...everything belongs to the Lord |
"Unemployed" or "Underemployed" are the unwelcome monikers for so many of us during these wearing and difficult days. Even those with jobs are experiencing shortfalls in their budgets, as raises are almost non-existent, although the cost of living continues to rise.
When we find ourselves in such circumstances, we have choices to make.
We can either sit down and lament our situation, like the Israelites who pined for "leaks and onions by the Nile", or we can rise up like Joshua and Caleb and believe God, by whom, "We are well able to overcome them!”
Fear and worry are our worst enemies and must be avoided at all costs. These emotions will lead to anger, which will lead to destructive reactions and habits. Families and individuals have been destroyed because of the anxiety of losing a job, home, etc. Some turn to alcohol or other addictive and destructive escapes. Others turn on their own families, causing a root of bitterness to develop which can devour all the love in their homes like a cancer.
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| Jesus calms our storm |
We need to stay strong in our belief that God will provide and bless us even when times are hard, when there is little concrete evidence things are going to "turn out all right". We must learn to rest in the Lord and allow Him to lead us.
The Bible has a very clear, practical method for banishing worry,
Trust in the LORD and do good. (Psalm 37)
So, for those of us tempted to give in to fear and feelings of being "poor", here are some remedies:
As the Lord said to Moses, "What do you have in your hand?" What has the Lord already given you? Instead of being led by every advertising campaign to believe we need to buy more in order to have a quality life, how about enjoying what we already own? Ask the Lord to give you a creative idea that will bless your family and meet your immediate needs. He is faithful—He will never leave you or forsake you.
Instead of going to the movies, how about sitting in the still of the evening and listening to the crickets. My grandmother told me that, during the Great Depression, the children in her family would sit and be as still as possible so they could hear the corn grow! Learn to exercise a godly sense of humor.
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| A family counts their blessings at mealtime |
Instead of giving in to all of the things in our lives that have demanded our attention and our money, slow down, learn to seek the Lord and embrace those simple things that are subtle and profoundly meaningful, not to mention cheap. My husband and I did not own a television when our oldest children were tiny, so we used to sit in our living room and watch them chase each other around the couch—we laughed until our sides ached! My dear husband also used to read the local adds backwards—he can make just about anything fun!
God is making us slow down enough so that we will begin to notice all the blessings that He has already provided us that we presently take for granted. While you are working through a difficulty—learn to live modestly!
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| A home-made happy birthday party! |
Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or do without—so the adage goes.
Giving less time to being a consumer gives us more time to maintain and repair the things we already own. We can darn those socks instead of tossing them and buying new ones. We can clean up our appliances and fix anything broken, even buttons and trim—this is much less expensive than buying new!
We can take the time to polish the car, clean the interior, and change the oil so that it lasts longer. We can put some sweat-equity into the yard, paint the interior, and fix things that have been broken.
When we do have a bit of money, we can invest in tools and raw materials. For the homemaker this would be things like basic kitchen equipment that could make it easier for us to produce things from scratch. When we do our grocery shopping, we can eliminate the expensive “pre-made” items and purchase things such as whole onions, potatoes, sacks of flower and beans (or a grist mill and wheat berries), baking supplies, whole grains, and even can goods, etc.
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| Don't forget your duct tape! |
Invest in knowledge. Do it yourself books, manuals, videos that teach practical skills, these are all good ways to spend time and money. You can find many of these items at the library or online for free.
Most of the things we purchase are expensive because of the labor costs. Learning how to change the oil, fix the heating coil in the dryer, or even fixing the vacuum cleaner can save a family a lot of money.
Barter and dicker. My dear son had a beautiful wedding, and paid for it himself, without any debt. He did this partially by bartering his services for other niceties he would not otherwise have been able to afford, such as hiring one of the best rated photographers in our area!
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| "I love it when a plan comes together!" |
Give. Be an answer to someone else’s prayer by giving to others in need.
My first Titus 2 mentor spent some sparse times during her first years of marriage. She and her husband were attending Bible College, and so their income was extremely small. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they decided to bless their next-door neighbors, who were also college students just as strapped as they were. They scrimped and saved until they could afford a bag full of special goodies and treats. Then they set the bag by the door of their friends, rang the bell and ran home, clandestinely peeking out their window to watch. It was one of their cherished memories, even ten years after.
Even if you can't give in goods, you could give of your time. There are so many who are lonely—why not a sweet visit, just to listen, or a call to an elderly relative?
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| Thankfulness for all that God has given |
Practice thankfulness. Sure, you could lose it all some day in the distant future, or you may not lose a thing. What will it matter if you do not enjoy today? Will it make things any better to allow gloom-and-doom imaginings to cloud the blessings of today?
I begin thanking God before I even open my eyes. I thank Him for my bed, my pillow, the baby sleeping next to me, my wonderful husband. I don't neglect the greatest things—the privilege of God, knowing He loves me, and realizing the multiple blessings found in Jesus, and the precious ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life! It isn't long before my batteries are charged and I'm ready to go—it is much easier to face the challenges of the day when filled with the joy of the Lord!
Pray and keep a prayer list. This has been so much fun over the years. I first started this practice when I had just three children, and I lived in a basement apartment without windows. I can remember specific items and how the Lord provided to this very day.
Since then I have kept numerous prayer-request journals. It is a ritual I use to unburden my heart, since when I write each item down, I determine to leave it with God in faith that He will either answer it directly, or He will deny me in lieu of something far better. It is so fun to revisit these lists periodically and place a smile next to each item that has been provided!
I don't waste ink and paper with silly requests such as "world peace" or "to win the lottery". Some requests are too broad, some too vain, others would ruin me (having money all at once would ruin most of us). I try to keep these as precise as I can. I read once that, the more specific the request is, the greater the glory God receives, and the better His personal love and care is expressed to us.
For instance, instead of writing down, "make enough money", I write down, "have mortgage paid this month", or "items for birthday gifts" or "three winter skirts for each girl". It is amazing to see just how God will specifically meet each need—a bag of free clothes, a special garage sale, some rebate money coming in the mail at just the right moment. This is the fun of the faith-filled life!
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| At day's end God's promise endures! |
Now that six of my children are grown, my specific prayers for them are more meaningful than ever! I write down detailed requests for them, too, and then leave my concerns with the Lord, where they belong! I often find that even these petitions are met, one-by one! Remember to cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you!
Many of us are going through a time of chastening or pruning by a Father who dearly loves us. It is so important that we take His correction with grace and humility. In it we will find far more blessings than we ever imagined, and our light will shine even brighter as the days grow dark. In all, may Christ be glorified, and may His kingdom come to our homes and our hearts like never before!
Guest post from Sherry K. Hayes
