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What do You Trust in a Failing Economy?
By Julie | August 12, 2008
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
But we rise up and stand firm. — Psalm 20:7-9
Americans put their trust in pretty un-secure things, especially now. Some of us put trust in our job; others rely on WIC and welfare. Some trust in finding a new job. Others rely on credit cards, car loans, house loans, and any kind of credit they can find to give them more now, pay later. I’ve had times I’ve relied too heavily on jobs and credit. Then I discovered, the hard way, I never really win with those tactics.
With current situations in the US, a lot of people found they put trust in the wrong things. Raising gas prices makes it harder to pay a car payment, and still manage to fill it up. Prices for necessities, like groceries, are skyrocketing; people are cutting back on non-essentials to eat, and put gas in the car so they can go to work. With Americans spending less, profits are down, forcing companies to cut back, sometimes on labor. Putting trust in our jobs is riskier than it was ten years ago. The unemployment rate has risen:
JULY 2008—The unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down in July (-51,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
And, the country is facing the biggest mortgage crisis ever. I’ve heard credit cards, and credit in general, is harder to get. People are scared to use them anyway for fear of losing a job, or not getting a raise to cover the rising cost of a living.
For me, the past 5 years have been life changing. I became a Christian when I was 9. But I didn’t really know what it meant to live a different life, for God. I relied on myself a lot. I prayed for immediate needs, but often I didn’t stop to consider if God had answered me. I just trudged through to figure out a solution.
Then 5 years ago my son was born, I quit my job to take care of him. Marc started to worry. I worried about everything for our new family. And I prayed and prayed and prayed, as I’d never prayed in my life. With a colicky baby at home, and not as much money to fix problems, I wasn’t free to run off and handle things as I had before. I learned to wait for God, to rely on God. And frequently, I ridiculed the way he handled things; I felt I had much better ideas and solutions, but darn it, God was not cooperating. In time I saw the answers to prayers, sometimes yes, sometimes wait, and sometimes no. The no’s ticked me off. I had some pretty huffy prayers. God allows that. But the more attitude I showed him the more he went to work on me; that was not always fun. We’ve had a lot of little, and some big miracles in our lives the past few years. I wonder how many more we would’ve had if I’d allowed it earlier. Some of it was hard. But I’d do everything again to get here. I’ve been changed so much; my family is stronger (and bigger with another son), my marriage is stronger, my faith is stronger, and I have more sympathy and desire to help and pray for people who are struggling. Marc has a job; we have a mortgage, and sometimes other payments. I don’t put my trust in those things anymore. But when I’m not sure how to pay them, I pray before I ever try to come up an answer on my own.
I don’t know what to think of all the changes our country is struggling with. Since some of them haven’t affected me, I don’t think I have a good appreciation for what some of you may be facing. I don’t know what the answers are. I wish it were easier for people. But I do know, if you are struggling, God can and will help you. It is almost guaranteed it won’t happen the way you expect. But He is a much more stable thing to put trust in than a job, or money, or welfare, or the government, or health insurance, or anything.
Topics: Encouragement, In the News, Life and Living |
