Take a slow, deep breath. Remember that regardless of your financial situation, God made you in His image, He loves you, and there are others who love you too.
If you or someone you care deeply about is facing a personal financial crisis, it can seem insurmountable, hopeless, and even shame-inducing.
You may have experienced an unexpected health crisis, accident, or job change, or the mounting costs of living may have you living paycheck to paycheck and missing payments.
We hope God will use this article, the resources we’ll share, and the experience you’re living through to grow your faith.
Things you’ll find in this article:
- Calming guidance for bringing your situation to God in prayer and to people you can trust.
- Biblical perspectives to help you find peace as you face a personal financial crisis.
- Faith-based financial mindsets and practices to help you live like Jesus.
Things you won’t find in this article:
- Professional financial advice.
- A simple fix.
Five Ways to Find Peace in a Personal Financial Crisis
1. Remember Why You’re Valuable
Before you ever had any money, before you were able to earn an income or own anything, you were loved. Even if you were born into a difficult situation, there have been people who’ve shown you love and care simply because you are a living, breathing human being made in the image of God.
If you feel alone right now, there is a God who loves you and wants good for you. We think that’s one reason you’re here reading this article. We wrote it because we care about you, too.
You are valuable because you exist. You exist because God wanted to know you. You may not believe this, but if you do, will you try saying it either out loud or to yourself?
I’m valuable because I exist. I exist because God wanted to know me.
This truth is present throughout the Bible, and especially in these words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26 NIV
2. Be Honest With Yourself
Financial crises can make us feel like the world is crashing down on us. Despair, fear, and shame can cause us to ignore our bank statements and fail to make needed changes.
It might be painful to acknowledge the situation you’re in, but you can’t find peace when you’re running from your problems. Take a bold step and be honest with yourself. How? By looking at your finances and documenting what’s happening.
This is important for a number of reasons. First, it can help you identify where your money is going. Sometimes we’re faced with unexpected costs that are outside of our control—like paying for a new roof after a storm or medical bills after breaking a bone. But some costs are under our control—like how often we eat out every month or buy new things. Gaining a better understanding of where your money is going can help you identify ways you might be able to cut back.
Second, when you look at your records, you may realize money has been leaving your account without your awareness. Maybe you’re paying for a streaming service you’re no longer using, or someone charged you more for a service than you agreed to pay. Maybe someone gained access to your account and has been siphoning money out. Checking whether you recognize all of the withdrawals that have been made on your account can make a difference to your finances.
3. Talk With God
Although prayer should not be your last or only effort, it’s really helpful to make it a regular and consistent part of how you move through all of life, including moments of crisis. God already knows what you’re experiencing, but He wants to hear from you about it. It’s okay if your prayers start out short, scared, or overwhelmed. God can handle it.
Praying every time you start worrying is a good idea.
Praying every time you start worrying is a good idea. Praying every day, throughout the day, and bringing your hopes, dreams, gratitude, fears, needs, heart, and mind to God is an even better idea.
Here are some example prayers for finances that can help you get started.
4. Talk With Trusted People and Professionals
It can be easy to feel like you have to handle a financial crisis alone. But keeping your worries to yourself often adds to the stress and anxiety, making peace even harder to find.
If you’re not sure about talking with others, here are two helpful questions to ask yourself: What would I gain from going through this without others? What might I lose by trying to face this on my own?
Seeking support doesn’t just bring practical help—it brings relief. Talking with your spouse, close friends, family, pastors, your small group, a financial advisor, or a counselor can help you process what’s happening and take wise steps forward.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 NIV
God created us to rely on people, and leaning on others during difficult times can lead to greater clarity and peace.
Just be mindful of where you seek advice. Some businesses profit from financial struggles, so if someone stands to gain from your crisis, they may not be the best source of guidance.
5. Be Willing to Make Changes and Follow a Plan
A financial crisis can feel chaotic, but peace comes when you take intentional steps toward stability. That often means being willing to make changes—sometimes big ones. And while change can be uncomfortable, avoiding it usually leads to more stress. The good news? Even small adjustments can make a big difference.
Your next steps will look different depending on your situation. However, there are some things to avoid if at all possible: high-interest predatory lenders like payday loans or high-interest credit cards, rash decisions to invest in get-rich-quick schemes or risky stocks, too-good-to-be-true solutions, or any kind of unsafe or unethical method of income.
If you’ve already taken one of these steps, don’t let guilt keep you stuck. It’s never too late to adjust and move forward wisely. Taking action today, even in small ways, can help bring peace tomorrow.
Here are some questions to help guide your plan as you talk with trusted people and professionals:
- Do you have insurance related to the crisis? Should you make a claim?
- What are the most essential items and bills? What’s their order of importance?
- What are your most trustworthy and fair options for gaining funds?
- Which financial resources will you use in which order?
- How can you limit spending on eating out, entertainment, or anything non-essential?
- Do you have a budget? How can you adjust it for this period while things settle?
- Who do you know who could help you with your budget?
- Who do you know who would be happy to help meet needs, whether with their time, advice, or resources?
- Is it possible to take on additional work?
- What are some ways you can continue to be generous during financial lack?
What Can You Do Next?
As you work through the items on the list above, you will realize that at each step, there are people who will help you, mindsets that will serve you, and opportunities that will grow you. Unfortunately, the opposite can also be true.
Here are three helpful resources we’ve created to help you find your people, strengthen your mind, and keep growing with every step forward.
1. Join a Small Group
Small groups (also called LifeGroups) create a space for people to intentionally share their lives with others, grow spiritually together, and encourage each other through the highs and lows of life.
They gather in homes, coffee shops, and other places where people love to connect—including online or through the Bible App.
2. Listen to This Podcast Season: What Does Jesus Say About Time and Money?
Does the Bible send mixed messages about how to handle time and money? What did Jesus have to say about it, and can we even talk about these things without freaking out? This season of You’ve Heard It Said explores investing, saving, sharing, budgeting, giving, and understanding our biggest questions about time and money.
3. Watch This Message Series: Making Change
Whether you’re digging out of debt or planning for your future, investing in a brighter tomorrow starts by making change today. In this four-part series, Pastor Craig Groeschel shares from Scripture and his own lived experience that less is more, stress is bad, giving is good, and tomorrow matters.
Remember, your value does not decrease or increase with your bank account. You are not defined by what you have, or by what you’ve lost. You are valuable because you exist. There is hope for the future, there are people who will help you, and there is a way to take steps toward financial health.