Many of us worry about having enough money. What if I lose my job?How much is enough? Maybe you grew up having little and retain a fear that lack could come your way again. What is the root of this fear? How can we get free?

I remember one time many years ago when our church finances took a dip. Even though I know all the scriptures about God being our source, I worried a bit. Knowing that such fears are usually based on lies we believe at a heart level, I asked the Lord to show me why I felt anxiety. Instantly he gave me a surprising answer. I saw a picture in my mind of a young child being hugged by an older man. I then realized that my worry about the dip in our church finances was based on the lie that God was not pleased with me/us. In other words, the lack of finances was a form of discipline or even rejection. From the vision, I understood that his affection for me was unrelated to finances and would never change, which of course is biblical. That day I was delivered to a great extent from worrying about money. We have always had enough, even more than enough.

Recently I read the following verses which reminded me of the vision God gave me years ago.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5–6 (NASB95) —

Relying on money instead of God is rooted in the fear that God may abandon us, which he promises he will never ever do.

One of the Lord’s compound names in the Old Testament is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. God revealed this name to Abraham when the Lord provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in place of his son, Isaac. At the place of his testing, Abraham discovered God’s loving provision.

If we keep our focus on and faith in God, he will always provide. It is not merely something he does: it is who he is.

Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:13–14 (NASB95) —  

God is more committed to provide for us than we can imagine. To believe otherwise is an insult to his character. So, the next time we are tempted to worry about not having enough money, let us remember who God is. He is our faithful and loving provider who promises to never ever abandon us. We can take that to the bank.