How to Trust God with Your Finances When You Feel the Pressure to Provide
Many people face financial stress today. With food prices increasing, homes still unaffordable for many, companies laying off more workers, and economic policies not accomplishing their stated goals, it is understandable if you are feeling some of that tension now. According to a recent WalletHub survey, 69% of Americans feel insecure about their finances. This same study also stated that nearly 3 in 4 people say their financial situation affects their mental well-being. As someone who has recently experienced a layoff in this economy, I can assure you these feelings are real because I have had to navigate them myself. Add to this the desire that most responsible adults have to provide for themselves and their family, and you can see why this has all the ingredients of becoming a huge issue.
However, as followers of Christ, we must face this from a different perspective. Amid this challenge, we have a Heavenly Father who has promised to provide for what we need. So, how do you lean into this truth when the surrounding situation screams something that looks totally opposite? Trusting God with your financial situation is not a new concept, but that does not mean it feels any less challenging in these moments. To help you navigate this space, I would like to offer you some biblical and practical suggestions to maintain trust in God even when you feel the pressure.
Don’t forget his promises.
God’s promises are given to us for these types of moments. When things feel tight and uncertain, that’s when our eyes look upward. Let me remind you of what God has said to you.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? …So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Matthew 6:25-26; 31-32
I want you to read these verses again and let the truth of these words really sink into your heart. If you must write it down and carry it around with you. In trying financial times, it is important to remind yourself of God’s word. He knows your situation, what you need, and has promised to provide for you. The challenge here is that he does not specify how or when he will supply the provision, only that he will.
The reason he tells us this is so we won’t worry. Jesus, knowing our human nature, recognizes that when things don’t look right, our instinct is to become anxious about it. When anxiety is about to overtake you, remembering God’s promises and the certainty of his provision can help you rest knowing he will take care of you.
Focus on God’s presence, not your present situation.
If you are feeling pressure in the moment, stressing over it will not help. In this same passage, Jesus asked a critical question,
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? - Matthew 6:27
Obviously, the answer is no. When you face these situations, you have two options. You can look around, or you can look up. One of these will produce anxiety, and the other will provide peace. I believe you know which is which.
When you focus on your present situation, your stress levels increase, and that brings with it a host of health-related challenges. Is it any wonder Jesus tells us not to worry?
That’s why the answer to your present situation is the presence of God. After telling us not to worry, the next thing Jesus said was: Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you (Mt. 6:33). The only way you overcome natural proclivities is through supernatural help. When you run to God’s presence and keep your eyes on him, it is a sign of you placing your trust in him. When that happens, he replaces all the fear, anxiety, and even the struggling with the peace of his presence. If you are currently struggling to trust God with your finances, spend time in His presence so He can relieve your anxiety, give you peace, and help you navigate these challenging moments.
Give according to what you have, not what you don’t.
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 2 Corinthians 9:12 (NLT)
One of the unspoken pressures Christians may face is the reality that they cannot give as they once did. This can even cause some to feel guilty about this. I would say don’t worry about it. According to Paul’s words here, you can relieve yourself of the pressure that comes from this guilt. You always give in proportion to what you have. In seasons when you have a lot, give a lot. If those seasons shift and you have less, then in those times it is okay to give less. There may be moments when God leads you to take bigger steps of faith in proportion to your resources. If he is leading you to do that, then follow his lead and trust his ability to provide for you. However, ensure that in those moments, you are being led by the Holy Spirit and not coerced by someone else. If he is leading you, everything will be okay. If it is coercion, then all bets are off.
Review your expenses.
If you feel pressure to provide one thing, consider what you are actually offering. Although you may already be aware of this, let me remind you that there is a distinction between wants and needs. You need to eat, but you don’t need to eat a steak dinner every night. When you are feeling financial pressure, look at ways you can reduce the expenses you don’t really need. Ask yourself questions like these.
- Are there subscriptions that I have that I can cancel?
- Can I bring lunch instead of buying it every day?
- Do I really need 8,000 cable channels?
I think you get the point. The idea is to find the holes where money is leaking and fill them. Reducing unnecessary expenses can help alleviate pressure and bring your budget back into alignment with your current financial situation. Remember, while God has promised to provide for us, that does not mean we can’t be better stewards of the resources he has already given to us.
Get outside help or encouragement.
One reality of financial pressure is that it often carries a level of shame. Many people worry others will judge or criticize them because of their situation. According to the same WalletHub survey, nearly two in five people admitted they were scared to ask for financial advice. When I worked in financial services, one of the biggest hindrances many people faced in seeking help was that they felt their advisor would look down on them because of their situation. This fear kept them in their situation longer than necessary because they did not want to seek the help they truly needed.
Let me say this to encourage you. There is nothing wrong with getting help or encouragement when you are struggling. If you need financial advice, get it. If you need encouragement to keep trusting God, then seek it out. There is no shame in asking for help. In fact, it is commendable because you recognize your deficiency and you want to do something about it. Everyone should always applaud this behavior and never frown upon it. Even more so as Christ followers. The primary purpose of being part of the body of Christ is to lift one another up when we are in need. I understand if you feel bad because of where you are. Just don’t let that stop you from getting the help you need.
Financial stress is real. The pressure to provide is real as well. But so are the promises of God. I feel confident in telling you that when you look back over your life, you will see a trail of God’s faithfulness that has been evident repeatedly along your journey. That is what you lean into in these moments. The God who has provided for you before will do it again. That is not my promise; that is his. As I face my season of trusting God in this uncertainty, and you face yours, I can rest, and you can too, trusting that God will do what he has said.
He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
Originally published November 25, 2025.
