Navigating the Storms of Life with Howard Dayton

For Howard, that question is deeply personal.

When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn

Years ago, Howard and his wife, Bev, were in the process of adopting their second child, a newborn boy named Andrew.

When Andrew was just a few months old, they began noticing problems with his eyesight. A visit to an ophthalmologist revealed that he was blind. Further examinations uncovered something far more devastating: Andrew had been born with only a brainstem.

Andrew lived for seven years, requiring extraordinary care throughout his short life. Howard and Bev loved him deeply, but the physical and emotional demands were exhausting. 

That experience taught their family something about the unpredictable nature of life's difficulties. Some crises develop gradually, giving us time to prepare. Others arrive without warning. Some resolve quickly, while others become long and painful journeys. Some result from our decisions, while others are entirely beyond our control. 

And many bring significant financial consequences.

Job loss, medical emergencies, family deaths, and unexpected expenses can place enormous pressure on our resources and relationships. When those pressures accumulate, even the strongest families can feel overwhelmed.

Howard emphasizes that one of the most important things couples can do during these seasons is communicate. Rather than allowing stress to create distance, he encourages husbands and wives to set aside time each day to talk honestly about what they're experiencing.

Remembering Who God Is

When difficulties arise, our first instinct is often to focus on everything that's going wrong. But Howard believes the most important question isn't simply how we'll overcome the crisis. It's whether we remember who God is in the middle of it.

Scripture reminds us that God is loving, faithful, and intimately involved in our lives. His character doesn't change when our circumstances do.

That's a truth we can easily forget when hardship continues longer than expected.

Howard points to the prophet Jeremiah, who knew what it meant to experience suffering and despair. In Lamentations 3, Jeremiah describes his affliction and the bitterness weighing on his soul.

Yet in the middle of his grief, he remembers God's steadfast love and declares that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:21–23). Notice that Jeremiah's circumstances haven't necessarily changed. His hope comes from remembering the character of the One who remains faithful even in suffering.

The same is true for us. When financial pressures mount, or an unexpected crisis changes our plans, we may not immediately understand what God is doing. But we can trust that His love hasn't diminished and that His presence hasn't disappeared.

Our circumstances may be uncertain, but God's faithfulness is not.

How God Can Work Through Adversity

One of the most difficult questions we face during a crisis is why God allows suffering.

Scripture doesn't provide a specific explanation for every hardship. But it does assure us that suffering doesn't place us beyond God's care or His ability to work in our lives.

James 1:2–4 reminds believers that trials can produce steadfastness, helping us grow toward spiritual maturity. Howard has experienced that truth through profound personal loss.

Years after caring for Andrew, he walked alongside Bev through a five-year battle with breast cancer that eventually spread to her bones. Following her death, Howard reflected on how those painful years had changed him. He recognized that his relationship with Christ had deepened and that he had grown in his love for others.

That doesn't make the suffering itself good or erase the grief of losing someone we love. Rather, it demonstrates that God can continue working in us even through circumstances we would never have chosen.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works for the good of those who love Him. This isn't a promise that every situation will resolve according to our expectations. It's an assurance that hardship cannot ultimately frustrate God's purposes for His people.

The same principle applies to financial difficulties. A financial crisis may reveal habits that need to change, priorities that need reconsidering, or areas where we need greater wisdom. At other times, financial hardship comes through circumstances entirely outside our control.

We shouldn't assume that every difficulty is God's discipline or that someone experiencing financial hardship has been unfaithful. But whatever the cause, we can seek God's wisdom and trust that He remains present with us.

Responding to Financial Difficulties with Faith and Wisdom

So what should we do when we're facing a financial crisis?

Trusting God doesn't mean ignoring our circumstances or pretending everything is fine. It means remembering that our security ultimately rests in Him rather than in our ability to control every outcome. And applying biblical wisdom requires more than simply knowing what Scripture says about money. We must put those principles into practice.

That may involve reassessing our spending, seeking wise counsel, communicating honestly with our families, or making difficult adjustments to our financial plans. It also means resisting the temptation to let fear dictate every decision.

During uncertain times, our natural instinct is often to hold tightly to whatever resources we have. Yet Scripture provides a remarkable example of believers who responded differently.

In Acts 11:27–30, the prophet Agabus foretold a severe famine throughout the Roman world. The early Christians knew that difficult circumstances were approaching. They could have responded by thinking only about their own security. Instead, they looked for ways to help others.

That's an important distinction. Biblical generosity doesn't require us to neglect our families or ignore our financial responsibilities. But it does invite us to consider the needs of others, even when our own circumstances are uncertain.

The early Christians understood that their resources were entrusted to them by God. And because they trusted their Provider, they were free to look beyond themselves.

Finding Hope Beyond Our Circumstances

The storms of life rarely arrive when we're ready for them. They interrupt our plans, challenge our assumptions, and sometimes leave us wondering how we'll move forward. But Scripture reminds us that our hope isn't dependent on a trouble-free life.

Jesus didn't tell His disciples they would never experience tribulation. He told them to take heart because He had overcome the world. That's the foundation of our confidence.

We may not be able to prevent every financial setback, avoid every painful circumstance, or understand everything God allows. But we can seek His wisdom, lean on His promises, and take the next faithful step. And as Howard Dayton's story reminds us, even in seasons of profound difficulty, God's love remains steadfast.

The peace Jesus promises isn't found in the absence of life's storms, but in the presence of the Savior who has overcome them.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• I’m 68, still working, and plan to retire at 70. My wife and I are paying about $1,400 a month in Medicare IRMAA surcharges. What tax or investment strategies could help lower those costs, especially after I retire?
• I’ve tried to give faithfully over the years, even when money was tight. Looking back, I’ve seen God provide in unexpected ways, including through an income stream I never anticipated.

Resources Mentioned:

• Become a FaithFi Partner
• Compass Financial Ministry
• Your Money Counts: The Biblical Guide to Earning, Spending, Saving, Investing, Giving, and Getting Out of Debt by Howard Dayton
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Do I Prepare the Next Steward?
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App