28 Days of Thanksgiving in the Book of Psalms – Day 8

(This is a challenge between student and teacher. Rules of the challenge are found in the posting entitled, “A Challenge Has Been Presented Using the Book of Psalms”).

Today’s Verse: “We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” Psalms 75:1 (NKJV)

I Give Thanks For: Financial Difficulties!

Now, hear me out before you reply, “WHAT?”

Yes, I am thankful for financial difficulties. Our Good Lord knows I have had plenty of them in my lifetime. He knows that because of all the times that I have cried out to Him about them. I’m ever so familiar with living from paycheck to paycheck. I’m familiar with battling over the checkbook, trying to eek out enough money just to pay the month’s bills. I’m familiar with the reality that its only the third week of the month, but the monies for the month are already gone. I’m familiar with the ever growing mountain of debt and the constant wondering if we will ever see the end of it. I’m familiar with the struggle to pay the mortgage payment, the electric bill and all that we owe. I’m ever so familiar with the dilemma of – do I pay for this expensive medicine or do I buy food? I’m familiar with getting that enormous hospital bill and wondering how in the world are we ever going to pay that one. I’m familiar with the breakdowns of the car, the air conditioner, the washing machine, the refrigerator, the…..! Yep, my friend, I have been there, done that, so many times! I am ever so familiar with financial difficulties!

Yet, I am also familiar with God in the midst of those financial difficulties. God has promised to be with me wherever I am – and so He is there in the midst of my financial difficulties. He cares! He stands ready to help! I just need to call out to Him, to honestly share the need with Him, to give it over to Him, and to simply watch what He does with that need. Admitting there is a problem is the hardest part. Giving it over to God is sometimes harder still. Pride has a way of stepping in the way. And yet, I’ve learned that my pride, my not giving the financial difficulties to God, only robs me of seeing God’s “wondrous works” in the midst of those difficulties. Watching God at work, now, that’s the blessing!

Together my husband and I have given our financial difficulties over to our God. We’ve witnessed so many answers to our prayers. We’ve received refunds that were totally not expected, but perfectly timed. We’ve gotten credits applied to accounts where credit was not worthy. We’ve had envelopes of money given to us from strangers unaware. We’ve been gifted with many a gift card to help at times when we needed to fill the empty cupboards or put gas in the car. We’ve had bills completely written off at times when the mountain was just too high to climb. We’ve been blessed beyond measure when we’ve given our financial difficulties over to our God who cares!

And for that, I am truly thankful. God does care! God knows our needs and He helps to meet them! God will provide when we trust Him! God is faithful to His children! God blesses!

I am blessed!