Abundant Living in a Struggling Economy

Surviving Mortgage Foreclosure, Unemployment or Even Bankruptcy with Hope

Weak or struggling economies tend to produce widespread panic and fear. Bank and auto industry bailouts, higher unemployment and foreclosure rates, more taxes and out-of-control government spending are all signs that personal financial trouble may be just around the corner.

My husband recently applied for unemployment benefits for the first time in his life. The non-profit organization he worked for lost their government contract, which eventually led to widespread layoffs. He still preaches and ministers in various churches, but our income level has dropped significantly. Since he has not been able to replace his job, our financial situation continues to fluctuate.

Sometimes the fear of financial failure is worse than failure itself. Worrying about what tomorrow will bring puts enormous stress on our health, marriages and families. If your worst fears have already come to pass, there is hope. Unemployment, mortgage foreclosure, and even bankruptcy are not the end of the world.

My husband and I have been forced to re-evaluate our priorities, and as a result our marriage and faith are stronger than ever. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and life more abundantly" (John 10:10). Here are a few tips to help you find peace and hope in the midst of economic turmoil.

Be Thankful (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Have you noticed how easy it is to complain? My husband and I fell into this trap during one particularly trying financial crisis. We finally realized what we were doing and began to recount all of the wonderful blessings in our lives. We immediately felt at peace, and within a few days the situation was resolved.

Be Positive (Philippians 4:8)

We live in a world filled with negative people and grim news reports. Negative, critical people rarely have peace and joy. Because of their negativity, they tend to dump misery and pain on their family and friends. Going through foreclosure or bankruptcy with a negative person makes the ordeal much worse. If you tend to be a negative person, make a disciplined effort to retrain your thinking and outlook on life.