Don’t Lose Hope

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

There’s a lot of information coming at you these days-everything from the right way to wash your hands to how far to socially distance yourself from another breathing human. And in the middle of all the information overload is your money. Let’s break down what you should and shouldn’t be doing with your money in a crisis.

What Should I Do if My Income is Stable?

• Keep saving!
• Keep working your baby steps. (If that term is new to you, consider joining one of our online Financial Peace University groups starting soon)
• Continue to make minimum payments on all outstanding debt.
• Keep paying your bills on time.
• Use your stimulus money to help those in need. Consider giving to our Benevolence Fund to help those in our church family and community who are negatively impacted by COVID19, or Community Impact to support their ministry efforts in our community.
  • As stewards of God’s grace, we should “use whatever gift we have received” to serve others” (1 Peter 4:10)
  • “If it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously…” (Romans 12:8)
• Look for ways to “live and give like no one else!” Be generous!
• Do not pause your debt snowball.
• Do not cash out your 401k. Contact your financial advisor for guidance.
• Do not defer your student loan payments.
• Do not stop paying your mortgage.
• Get and stay on a budget. Give every dollar a name. Review your expenses against your budget, at least monthly.
• Again, if you haven’t taken Financial Peace before, now is the time! Check out our online group schedule here.

What Should I Do if My Income is Not Stable?

• Pause your debt snowball. If you’re out of work or have a potential job loss on the horizon, go ahead and pause temporarily, but don’t stop indefinitely!
• Make sure your four walls (food, utilities, shelter and transportation-in that order) are covered, then save as much as you can.
• Make the minimum payments on your debt (if you can).
• Cut out all unnecessary spending from your budget (need vs want).
• Get and stay on a budget. Give every dollar a name. Review your expenses against your budget, at least monthly. If you haven’t taken Financial Peace before, now is the time. Check out our online group schedule here.
• Look for a part-time job, sell stuff to make extra money, or start a side hustle.
• Use any stimulus money to cover your four walls and save the rest in your emergency fund.
• Do not take on new debt! Debt is never a good idea, especially when you’re facing a potential recession.
• Do not take out a payday loan.
• Do not get a home equity line of credit (HELOC).
• Do not stop paying your mortgage.
• Do not cash out your 401k unless you’re facing foreclosure or bankruptcy. Contact your financial advisor for advice.
• Seek short-term financial assistance. Try to do everything in your power first. Don’t be too prideful to ask for a helping hand.
  • Our Hope Ministry provides short-term assistance and can walk with you as you make decisions and connect you with other ministries or agencies that can support you in your time of need. Call us at 512-331-5050 or email us at [email protected].

Should I File for Unemployment?

• Check with your state government to see if you qualify
• Keep looking for work
• Do not file for unemployment if you can bring in at least 50% of your income another job (full or part time)

What if I Run a Business?

• Take advantage of the payroll tax deferment offered through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
• Do not take out a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan if at all possible
• Check out our Facebook page COVID-19, My Work and My Faith for resources and encouragement for business owners.

Wherever you’re at right now, just know you’re not alone in any of this. We’re all taking this one day at a time. But hold on, take a breath, and don’t do anything out of fear.  We are going to come through this. Moment by moment. Day by day. Hope springs eternal.

“May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Glorify God in Everything We Do (1 Cor 10:31)

Life can change on a dime! I don’t think any of us imagined ourselves on a lock down, homeschooling our kids, hoping our grocery order has the essentials, or worrying about an invisible virus. Besides the fear of contracting Covid-19, a whole lot of us are worried about our jobs and finances, too. Before we talk about some of the things we can do when it comes to money and spending, let’s pause and remember Jesus promise to never leave or forsake us and find encouragement in His timeless words, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).

Jesus is with each of us in this very moment of crisis. He has already overcome everything that we will face in this world. Yet, with compassion, He also cares about everything that is on our hearts and mind, including our finances.  He desires  to exchange our anxious thoughts with perfect, supernatural peace as we look to Him.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, preset your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

God is not surprised by any of the difficulties we are facing; He wants to guide us through them!

Let’s start by taking a deep breath together, staying calm and begin to recognize the things we can control as we trust God to take care of everything else! Even in the midst of craziness YOU can still be kind to others (even when they post dumb stuff online that makes you mad). Remember, HOPE > FEAR. Fear is contagious, but hope is more contagious!

 Here are a few more suggestions for increasing hope in financial uncertainty:

• Develop or reinforce a daily habit of spending time with the Lord. Include time praying for your finances each day and ask the Lord for strength to trust in His provision.
• Thank Him for the blessings He has provided and cultivate a grateful heart by taking time each day to list three provisions for which He’s blessed you.
• If your income is stable, consider giving to our Benevolence Fund to support those negatively impacted or Community Impact to support their ministry efforts in our community.
• Tighten up your spending. Have a plan for your finances!
• Connect with others regularly and ask a trusted friend to check in with you about your finances
  • If there is an area you tend to overspend, share that and give them permission to ask how your spending is going.
  • Did you order take out one too many times this week? It happens to the best of us!
  • Were you able to resist that afternoon stop at Starbucks?
  • We all need a cheerleader in times of uncertainty – invite someone to share in your celebrations and help keep you on track.

If you would like further help with finances, check out one of our online Financial Peace University groups starting soon! Check out the resources available at www.hcbc.com/fpu or email [email protected] for more information.

Last fall, our entire church participated in FPU together and we learned about how to manage God’s blessings, God’s ways, for God’s glory. There were countless stories of life change as God took our “baby steps” and did BIG things! If you are new, missed it, or need a refresher, check out the Defying Gravity sermon series at https://www.hcbc.com/watch/.

As a stewardship team, we’re  here to walk alongside you in your financial journey which is why we want to give you the tools you need to make a budget, crush your debts, and build wealth. Right now, for the first time ever, Dave Ramsey is offering a FREE two-week trial of Financial Peace University. This course has helped over 6 million people just like you take control of their financial fears and live in PEACE. For questions or encouragement, email us at [email protected].

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thess. 2:16-17

My wife shared a great Facebook post with me the other day, and I can't stop thinking about it. The post compared our common experience of stay-at-home to riding out a storm. The fascinating point is this: we're all experiencing a storm, but we're not all experiencing the same storm.

partly cloudy

For some of us, this is a period of rejuvenation. Life's pace is slowing down a little bit, priorities are becoming clearer, and we're using technology to connect with friends and family. This seems less like a storm, and more like those times when the rain clouds kind of lighten up, and the sun's rays shine through.

heavy rain

For others, we're waiting for a break in the weather; the rain is present, but maybe not constant. We're ready for the rain to stop and, sometimes, grateful for the refreshment. We're enjoying having dinner as a family every night. Watching movies and playing games. Taking walks. Riding bikes. We're thankful for the opportunity to spend time together, and, if we're honest, kind of ready to have some of our old routine back.

thunderstorm

Then there's the thunderstorm: some of us are haunted by loud, ominous clouds of anxiety or anger. The people we live with are driving us batty and we're fairly certain that we can't stand another day with them. And, of course, we can't focus on anything other than the news. Or our aging parents. Or our children. Or our grandchildren. Or groceries. Or...

hurricane

Still others of us are feeling helpless and hopeless, watching as the hurricane tears apart the life we've built. The roof is coming off, the foundation is washing away, and we can't find any way to stop the damage. Our marriage is crumbling, our kids are floundering, and our incomes and savings are disappearing.

a spectrum of experience

This storm is a wide spectrum of experience - and you may find yourself at many points on that spectrum throughout the day. One minute, you're delighted to be connecting with a friend on FaceTime, and the next you're screaming at your kids and beating yourself up over it. (I know because I'm having that experience, too.)

But here's something we should all remember: all of these experiences are normal, as is everything in between. Feeling these things makes sense in our current climate - but that doesn't mean we're out of options.

Consider what your storm looks like; review these resources and ideas, and, even though it might seem silly, give some a try. You might be surprised.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

Identifying Stress

• Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and  the community you live in.
• People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:
  • Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
  • Children and teens
  • People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
  • People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use
• Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
  • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
  • Changes in sleep or eating patterns
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  • Worsening of chronic health problems
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

Reducing Stress in Yourself and Others

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities several days in a row.
• Being Properly Informed
• Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful.
• When you share accurate information about COVID-19 you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them.
• Learn more about taking care of your emotional health.

For Parents

Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.

• Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include:
  • Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
  • Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
  • Excessive worry or sadness
  • Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
  • Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
  • Poor school performance or avoiding school
  • Difficulty with attention and concentration
  • Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
  • Unexplained headaches or body pain
  • Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
• There are many things you can do to support your child
  • Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share factsabout COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
  • Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
  • Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
  • Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
  • Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.
  • Learn more about helping children cope.

For Responders

Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:

• Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.
• Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).
• Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.
• Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.
• Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
• Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.
• Learn more tips for taking care of yourselfduring emergency response.

For Those Released From Quarantine

Being separated from others if a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be stressful, even if you do not get sick. Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine. Some feelings include:

• Mixed emotions, including relief after quarantine
• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
• Stress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
• Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious
• Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine
• Other emotional or mental health changes
• Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has been released from quarantine. You can help your child cope

Resources

For Everyone

• If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call 911
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)
• Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event

For Communities

• Coping with stress during an infectious disease outbreakpdf iconexternal icon
• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health during an Infectious Disease Outbreakexternal icon

For Families and Children

• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
• Coping After a Disasterpdf icon– A Ready Wrigley activity book for children age 3-10

For First Responders

• Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself
• Disaster Technical Assistance Centerexternal icon(SAMHSA)

This information can be found at the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

Brothers and sisters, all across the globe we have entered a very unique and stressful time- a season in our lives that may bring up our worry and feelings of uncertainty. Though we are able to wash our hands, practice social distancing, and take care of our neighbors as best we can, we have come to find that there is still a lot that is out of our control.

When we lose a sense of control over our lives, it is very normal to feel disoriented and to want to grasp at things that help us feel secure again, like hoard grocery supplies, watch the news incessantly to keep a tab on everything happening, or try to control everyone else around us. Our bodies may tense in anticipation of what waits for us around the corner. We may try to predict the future in order to guarantee that we’ll get a certain outcome that we are ready for, though no one fully knows what is to come.

Even in the midst of all this uncertainty, there is hope (Hebrews 6:19). We do not have to feel paralyzed or helpless but can move forward with our lives and the world just as it is.

Here are a few tips to consider:

1.) Acknowledge what you are feeling. Fear, sadness, or anger are perfectly normal, natural feelings that may be rising in you. There is insecurity, grief over your varying losses, and anxiety over what your future holds. Instead of avoiding these emotions, you can acknowledge this pain with compassion. You can ask the Lord to enter into the pain with you (Psalm 46:10).

2.) Affirm who you are and who God is. Going through difficult times can make us believe we are powerless, insignificant, or out of control. It may even make us doubt God’s goodness. Again, this is a normal way to feel, and yet we are not held captive to these initial reactions. Begin this step by affirming that you are a beloved child of God, a God who looks at you with infinite love, tenderness, and tremendous regard (Isaiah 43:4). You are not small or unimportant to the Lord who is always near. Remember that, though circumstances are hard and pain is present, God’s plan for you is to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). You cannot see how it will come to pass, but you can trust the process. Often, God works through slow miracles (Philippians 1:6).

3.) Recognize that you have choice. In the face of fear, may you never forget that you always have the power of choice. Ask yourself this: who do I want to be? What choices can I make today that will keep me aligned with the kind of person I want to be, despite my current circumstances? Moment by moment, you get to choose what to focus on, how you want to respond, and what you want to cultivate according to what you value most. Maybe this means you choose to practice gratitude in your mind space, or maybe it means that you spend time reaching out to others in order to serve those who may be feeling isolated.

God is using today and the days to come to make you more like the image of his son, Jesus Christ. Try opening up and asking God about what He wants to do in you today- then take some time to listen.

These times are difficult. Let them be difficult. Recognize that “this is bigger than me”, and allow this to lead you towards surrender to the One who is in control. Feel what you feel, be who you want to be, and let go of the results.