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By Grace Fox
 Several months ago I interviewed a former bank robber who'd spent time in prison for his offenses. This man, a police officer and father of four young children at the time of his conviction, recalled living a lifestyle beyond his financial means. As his debt increased, the fear of financial insecurity overwhelmed him. Stealing money to pay his debts seemed his only recourse.
While few Canadians condone this man's problem-solving techniques, many can empathize with his fear. A recent CBC broadcast revealed that the average Canadian family owes more than it earns. In 1984, we owed about $187 billion in personal debt. By 2004, that amount had skyrocketed to more than $801 billion. Today, personal bankruptcies are near a record high. That's a scary thought, especially if we're numbered among those statistics.
Even if alarming numbers don't include us, however, it's easy to fall into the fear of financial insecurity. Unexpected expenses such as car repairs, appliance replacements, and vet bills strike at the least convenient times. Add college fees, orthodontics, and perhaps a job lay-off, and anyone's nervous system can experience a few jitters.
So how can we move from fear to freedom in the realm of financial matters? The answer, I believe, lies not in working longer hours to earn more money, nor in receiving a sizeable raise or bonus. Rather, it lies in possessing a true understanding of who God is. He calls Himself Jehovah Jireh, a name that means roughly, God will see to it. It carries the connotation of provision He will see to it that our needs are met.
Providing for His children is a responsibility that flows from who God is. In other words, seeing to it that our needs are met isn't simply something He does when He feels like it. He does so because doing otherwise would be contrary to His nature. On occasion, we might not have as much as we think we need, but He'll always give us what He knows is right for us.
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Another aspect of God's character is love. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross so we could be cleansed from sin and enjoy a restored relationship with Him. Can we trust the One who loves us to that depth? Yes not only with our eternal future, but also with our temporal finances.
Our security lies in an all-powerful God who cares about us, not in money, real estate, or personal belongings. When we grasp a true understanding of God's character and its relevance to our everyday lives, we move from fear to freedom.
How do we know when we're moving into freedom? Fear brings stress and its cohorts sleeplessness, anxiety, and irritability. It causes us to clutch our finances like a toddler with a toy shouting, Mine! But freedom brings sweet relief. We shed the stress that comes from wondering how we'll make ends meet from month to month. Recognizing the Lord as our Provider, we watch with anticipation to see how He'll provide, and we willingly tithe in obedience to His command even when it seems we can't afford to give back a portion of our earnings.
As a career missionary who has lived on faith-support for nearly 15 years, I know what it means to struggle with the fear of financial insecurity. I also know what it means to experience God's provisions in amazing ways. My family has watched in wide-eyed wonder as He's provided groceries, clothing, college tuition, money for missions' trips, and more. Slowly, slowly, I've moved from fear to freedom. The secret? Practicing wise stewardship of the funds already entrusted to us, and focusing on God's promises. When fear taunts me, I remember this: God loves me and He has promised to provide for my needs.
It sounds simple, and it is. There's no need to panic and resort to drastic measures when God Jehovah Jireh is watching over His children.
Grace Fox is a national co-director for International Messengers Canada (www.im-canada.ca), a popular speaker at women's events worldwide, and the author of four books including Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman's Guide to Peace in Every Situation (Harvest House). She lives in Abbotsford. www.gracefox.com
January 3/2008
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