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One morning, after returning home from driving her three children to their Christian school, my friend Sherry found her husband back from work, sitting in their kitchen, with a shocked look on his face.
"Why are you home from work early?" Sherry asked, feeling her stomach tighten with dread.
"I've been laid off," he announced. After 10 faithful years as an aeronautic engineer, he told her how his services no longer were needed at his place of employment. In that one pivotal moment, Sherry's world turned upside down.
As the family's financial stability and comfortable lifestyle began to crumble, so did Sherry's self-esteem. It wasn't long before their SUV and comfortable house had to be sold. Private school for their children no longer was an option.
It was a struggle, but over time, Sherry and her husband learned they could find the sacred in simple living. Sherry realized her children's health, her stable marriage, and her wealth of friends were more precious than the lifestyle she'd been accustomed to before her husband lost his job. She discovered that living on less really could mean more.
Just like Sherry and her husband, many of us have had to live on a tighter budget this past year, too. When we face financial difficulties, it often seems as though nothing valuable can come from the experience. But Jeremiah 15:19 says, "If you will extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman" (NASB). There's always something valuable in seemingly worthless situations if we look through God's eyes. If you're coping with more month at the end of your paycheck, here are ways to trim your budget and find worthwhile lessons in the process.
Encourage in tangible ways. People who have been laid off may feel like a failure when they can't provide for their family, which can lead to a cycle of depression and lethargy. My friend Stephanie faced this problem when her husband, Bill, was laid off. He sent out résumés, followed up on leads, and was still out of work for months. Mounting tension led to arguments, leaving both partners feeling defeated.
Under the advice of their pastor, Stephanie urged Bill to create a budget for what money they did have. They found ways to save and be grateful for God's provision in the small things. Stephanie did mock job interviews with Bill and helped him make his résumé more marketable. If you're single, ask a friend to be your interviewer, or if you want to encourage a single mom, offer to help her practice.
Bill also became great at saving money at the grocery store and actually cut their food budget in half. By saving in practical ways and encouraging each other, this couple weathered the storm until Bill was employed again. Their marriage was strengthened, they developed greater compassion for those in financial need, and they never forgot that contentment is a choice.
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