Over the last decade, the United States of America has experienced unrestricted economic prosperity—deficits, debts, and interest payments apparently did not matter and millionaires seemed to emerge (at least on paper) overnight.

In the very midst of this unprecedented affluence, business and personal bankruptcy reached an all time high, and personal indebtedness exploded to almost $2 trillion. This translates into an average consumer debt load of over $14,000 per family in America.

More recently, the economy has taken a “downturn,” a term some economists have used to describe the financial woes that are gripping America. Many people are now experiencing unequaled discouragement and a sense of hopelessness, job losses, marital difficulties, and fear and dread of the future.

Even Christians, who have the ultimate hope – Christ – can experience feelings of despair and hopelessness when faced with financial difficulties. How do we respond when we or someone we love is facing unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy, or many other financial problems?

Discouragement
Discouragement is one of many symptoms associated with financial problems.

Although sometimes discouragement is caused by financial situations directly, all too often Christians become discouraged because they have adjusted their expectations to what everyone else around them expects, rather than what God expects of them.

These Christians suffer from unrealistic expectations caused by living in man’s economy. Man’s economy tells them to “keep up with the Joneses” and that the goal is to accumulate more and better material goods.  

They put pressures on each other to achieve success. Some may even believe that the failure to achieve success must represent spiritual failure or that money problems represent sin in the life of the Christian.

Paul was a man of God who was constantly presented with new challenges and surrounded by problems (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). However, it was his attitude and constant focus on God that gave him peace and helped him overcome his problems.

Throughout the Word of God are recorded incidents, like the case of the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, when God miraculously delivered His servants from impossible situations, but not before they first had to be subjected to the pressures of those situations.

God can use financial problems and hardships to draw us closer to Him, to deepen our faith in Him, and to remind us of our total dependence on Him. God will never leave us or forsake us. He will respond to us in the midst of our troubles.  

His response is to bring us hope in spite of the problem, but not necessarily a quick solution to the problem. “I know the plans that I have for you. . . plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Although we as Christians often have to go through trials that seem unbearable, it is during those times that God’s grace and comfort will never leave us and our prayers will never be ignored.

It may not be at the exact time that we think it should be or when we want it, but He will not turn a deaf ear to our prayers.

Sometimes God changes our circumstances and delivers miraculously, as in the case of Paul and Silas; at other times He does not deliver but, rather, He changes our perspective of those circumstances and gives the strength to endure.

Trust in the Lord
God desires for us to trust in Him. He wants us to live by His economy, which gives peace, contentment, and true riches. We must recognize His lordship over all things, including our finances.

Acceptance of the direction our Heavenly Father desires to give will enable all who are discouraged to “enter that rest” spoken of in Hebrews 4 and promised by Jesus. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

Christians should be encouraged to cling to the Lord during difficult and discouraging times. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”

As we depend on Him and allow Him to direct us through our most discouraging situations, He can provide protection against disappointment, bitterness, anger, and an unforgiving spirit.

When we find ourselves in a position of weakness, that is when God can demonstrate His real strength (see 2 Corinthians 12:10). God is not merely an observer of our lives; He is a participant. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2,3).

Conclusion
Regardless of what we have been through or what we will have to go through, our Lord is there alongside of us. God shows Himself faithful in all situations regardless of the circumstances, but it may not always be in the manner we prefer.

As we surrender our rights to Him, He will show His favor. If we place ourselves at His disposal, He will meet our needs and guide us along His paths.