God’s Comfort When Finances Fall Apart

FaithFi: Faith & Finance | Aug 5, 2024

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Show Notes

The late Tim Keller once said, “Just because you can’t see or imagine a good reason why God would allow something bad to happen…doesn’t mean there can’t be one.”

When something bad happens to your finances, it’s tempting to wonder if God really knows what he’s doing. Well, He does! Today, we’ll find God’s comfort in the midst of financial trials.

1 Peter 5:7 reminds us of God’s love for us in the midst of life’s troubles: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” It’s a reassuring verse, but you must know the context to understand God’s comfort fully.

The Context of Peter's Message

The Apostle Peter wrote his letters to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor. Many of them were being persecuted, discriminated against, and even murdered because of their faith in Jesus. In these hardships, Peter told his readers to:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:6

Life can be challenging. It certainly wasn’t for first-century Christians and may not be for you right now. But Peter’s words contain the secret of God’s comfort. It begins with humility.

You can probably think of a time when you were going along just fine, and out of the blue, something awful happened, like the death of a loved one, a business failure, a car accident, or a job loss. These tragedies can have severe emotional, physical, and financial consequences.

Our Reactions to Hardships

How do you usually react when bad things happen? Maybe you feel anxious and say, “That’s not how things were supposed to go!” Or, you might feel angry and discouraged, thinking, “Nothing good can ever come from this!” If this sounds like you, you’re in good company.

Whether you read the book of Psalms and see David praying laments before God or see Job questioning God during the unfair trials he faced, we leave with this beautiful truth: God can handle our raw, honest emotions.

Like David and Job, in these difficult circumstances, we need to continually be reminded that God is mighty, loving, and perfectly capable of running the universe. As worshipers, we’re not called to deny our pain but instead offer it to the only One who can do anything about it. When we bring our grief into God’s presence, we gain perspective. It’s a perspective that rises above the storm. It’s a perspective that sees the Son of Man standing alongside you in the fire.

Trusting God's Timing

Another idea in this passage can help us when we struggle. It’s the part that says God will lift us up in due time. In other words, God is sovereign, and there is always hope. We can trust God’s timing, even if it doesn’t match our expectations. God is working things out for our good and his glory.

Sometimes, it’s not enough just to listen to a radio program. The struggles in your life hit you hard, and you need more. I hope you’ll spend some extra time reading God’s Word. Pray. Find out what God wants to teach you through your struggles. Spend time with other believers, encouraging each other.

The next few verses in 1 Peter 5 explain why these spiritual disciplines are so important. 1 Peter 5:8 reads:

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”

This passage reminds us of the spiritual battle going on all around us. Suffering can make us even more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. He tries to make us believe we can “do life” without God. But Peter tells us to resist his lies. Bible study, fellowship, and prayer will help you stand firm in the faith.

Practical Steps for Comfort

Trust the Lord that he has a good reason for what you’re going through right now! The late Tim Keller reminds us, "If we knew what God knows, we would ask exactly for what he gives.”

So, when your finances fall apart, here’s how to find real, deep, lasting comfort:

Set aside your expectations for how things should be.
Humble yourself, and confess your pride.
Acknowledge God’s right to be the Lord in every situation.
Rest in the hope that God works all things out for your ultimate good.
List what you’re worried about or afraid of in this time of trouble.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7
Stand firm in your faith!

In Romans 5:3-5, Paul reveals that God uses hardships to make us more like Christ. It reads:

“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Remember, the challenges we face are not just obstacles but opportunities to deepen our faith and experience God’s transformative love. Stand firm in your faith, surrounded by a community of believers, and trust in the boundless grace of God, who turns our trials into triumphs.

Let's move forward with hope, knowing that our loving Father is intricately involved in every detail of our lives, working everything out for our ultimate good and His eternal glory.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

Should I pay off the mortgage on my rental property or focus on paying off my student loans? I'm deciding the best way to become debt-free.
I have a 30-year mortgage with an interest rate of just over 6%. Much of my monthly payment is going towards interest rather than principal. I'm wondering if I should try to refinance to get a lower interest rate and save on interest costs over the life of the loan.
I'm 62 years old and just started receiving my Social Security benefits. However, I have COPD, and I'm unable to work due to my breathing issues. I was wondering if I could file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in addition to my early retirement benefits. I'm not getting enough Social Security payments to cover my expenses.
Should I pay off the remaining mortgage on my home using funds from my wife's Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account? We currently owe about $220,000 on the mortgage, and her TSP account has around $230,000. I'm 58 years old, and my wife is 62 with 20 years of military service. We're focused on becoming debt-free, but I'm also concerned about investing that money in the tax-deferred TSP account rather than using it to pay off the mortgage. I'd like to get your advice on the best approach.

Resources Mentioned:

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