It’s hard to believe just a few years ago, we had $25,000 in a savings account. Not long ago, we were down to just $1,500 with a home, two cars, one child earthside and one on the way. And I know that if it had not been for God’s provision and preservation of all these, we would have already been in the red.
Each month, we tried to save as much as we could. Even if it was just $25. Something. Anything. To feel like we were moving in the right direction and not always pulling from our emergency fund.
But the emergencies and expenses kept coming. We had an accident and totaled our paid off car. Which placed us in a position to buy a used car and now have a car note (not expensive, but an extra payment none the less). My husband was recommended by two dentists to get braces in order to prevent further complications down the road that were bound to happen given his bite. We had bats in the attic. To name a few.
I feel like no one really tells you how expensive it is to just live as an adult. But we quickly learned!
We tried to stretch our dollars so much that our grocery budget grew smaller and smaller. To the point that we were leaving meals still hungry at times. We ended up using the food pantries occasionally to help us afford the one-off expenses of adulthood, like car maintenance, doctors bills, and new tires.
We thank God for amazing food pantries like the one we went to. We thank God for the people in our lives who stepped in and helped us financially. Even their emotional support was invaluable during these low times.
Savings ≠ Security
Currently, God is faithfully working things out. But I’m so thankful for this experience because it clarified a recurring fallacy I had in my mind.
At first, I used to think that our emergency fund would be our ultimate rescue to any situation. But once our savings kept dwindling, I started to feel that our quote unquote “security” was slipping away.
But still in the back of my mind, I told myself it would always be okay because if it truly got hard enough, we could turn to this ultimate last resort. I thought I could trust in the hand and hearts of other created beings, but through this situation, I learned where our ultimate provision comes from.
No job, no family member, no source of income, no side hustle can take care of me like God.
The True Provider
Your bank account is not your provider. Your investments are not your provider. Not even your employer is your provider.
God is your Provider. And He will Provide for you in ways you never imagined.
You may expect a family member to help you pay your utilities but there was an error in the system and you were credited a month’s charge. You may expect your job to give a raise in line with inflation, but God provides an open door for a new position. You may have to pay all your money on getting your car fixed before your child’s birthday, but someone offers to buy them their birthday gifts.
There are so many ways God provides beyond your paycheck and employer.
Providing Beyond Predictability
It reminded me of the manna in the Bible. The Israelites needed food. They probably expected their provision to come up from the ground, like it had always done. With wheat shooting up strong. But God.
God didn’t give them food from the ground like they were expecting. In Exodus 16:4 it says He rained down manna. He rained down bread from heaven. Who could have predicted God would give them food in this way?
No one! So the same goes for us.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.
Exodus 16:4 (ESV)
Trust in His Promises
Take God at His Word. Do not worry about tomorrow. What you will eat. What you will drink. Does He not care for us more than the sparrows and not a single one is worried about where their next meal will come from? It’s never foolish to depend on God.
Yes, it feels unfair that we’re a growing young family starting out at the height of inflation. But God. Although it was a scary place to be, we didn’t lose sleep over it. You have to choose to trust God at His Word. We’ve been blessed abundantly by God through job opportunities, our community and in the love we share as a family.
When we’re all together and laughing with not a single care in the world, I feel like the richest woman in the world.
No matter how much money is in the bank. God remains the same and will be with you in every single season. In seasons of famine, in seasons of abundance. You’re not alone.
Philipians 4:19 (ESV)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Purposeful Saving
Does this mean we stop setting money aside for an emergency savings? Of course not!
We know that Joseph stored up grain in preparation for the famine and it was a wise decision that blessed many people. Also, Proverbs 6:6-8 encourages the reader to be like the diligent ant that prepares her food in the summer and later reaps the harvest. Saving is a wise form of stewardship.
Also, having margin in your budget allows for generosity and helping others, which is very important to us.
We’ll keep striving for good stewardship of our finances and preparing wisely for the future. We just won’t be saving out of fear of the circumstances. And we won’t let the amount of money or the people around us to give us false hope that it’s the ultimate rescue for us.
The Lord will provide.
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