We just had an unexpected (they usually are) car repair come up that took a big bite out of our emergency fund. While I know God didn’t cause the problem, I think He was interested to see how I would respond. I don’t think He was too impressed.
I wasn’t too impressed with my initial reaction either: fear and feelings of a lack of security now that my emergency fund was shrunk. I would have liked to IMMEDIATELY respond by saying, “No big deal, God is my provider and every dollar in my name is actually His anyway, I am just the steward.” I won’t even tell you (to save myself the embarrassment) the stupid thoughts that were flying through my mind when I got the news. But, after a little time praying and reminding myself about about what the Bible says about it, I came back to my senses.
I have been building my emergency fund for years and have not had to use it until now. And I was upset that I had to use it. What’s the big deal? I mean that’s what it was there for anyway, right? Why not thank God that He provided the means for me to fill it up in the first place?
Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes, and actually quite often, our response to situations is different than we would have anticipated. It can be very telling of what is actually in our hearts. I guess that is why David asked God to search his heart and test him in Psalm 139.
This situation gave me the perfect opportunity to live out exactly what I was talking about with “Would Jesus have an emergency fund“. The general consensus was that Jesus would have an emergency fund (because it is wise to be prepared), but He wouldn’t place His trust in it, but in God. Well, I was trusting a bit too much my emergency fund, so this gives me a perfect opportunity to make a little course correction and transfer some trust back to God.
I am determined to get to the place in my life where I can immediately respond to trials with faith in His ability to provide my every need, rather than my meager attempts to insulate myself from problems. I will keep you updated on my progress. 
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad you had the efund to cover the expenses. I agree with your thoughts on faith.
I wrote on a similar topic this morning. I think I probably have about 10 years of life experience on you though. I remember the day when I used to react the way you did. And I do think it’s a perfectly human response.
Next time, you will have a little more faith because of what you’ve learned this time around, and the next time more, and one day you will look back at this experience and be amazed at how much you’ve grown in such a short time.
I don’t know if we ever get to the place in life where we immediately trust God with our needs. But I can tell you that it’s possible to get to the place where we trust Him rather quickly.
I’ll be following your progress. Can’t wait to see what God does in your life!
@Lynnae
Yea, I have been a Christian for about 13 years, but have only been REALLY serving God for about the last six years and it is amazing how much growth has taken place in that last six years over the first seven…
Yep, I can relate. I seem to fail those little ‘tests’ on a daily basis. Especially when I start thinking that I’m doing pretty good on my own and that I don’t need any help. You can guess what happens next.
If feeling a lack of security means that you then increase your emergency fund back up to it’s previous level, who’s not to say that’s the lesson that you need to learn right now.
Next time something like this happens, you’ll probably be more relaxed about it, but I bet you’ll still top up your EF to the right level.
Good for you that it only took you a little while to get back on track. Lynnae is right, it only gets better with time and practice.
“Some trust?” Some?
Fully rely on God. FROG.
I may not be there totally myself yet, but that’s the goal.
Remember that God never asks us to do something that’s impossible. Remember Rom 14:23 (…whatsoever is not of faith is sin) and 1 Peter 1:16 (… be ye holy; for I am holy).
Yes, the bar is high, but He has made it possible.
I had a trial with some similar emotions earlier this week. Plagued me for days in my mind, every time I wasn’t mentally busy, this issue would come up and ride around in my noggin for a bit.
And then I started thanking God for everything I could think of. In my case, it involved another person, but in the case of an EF, I’d be thanking God I had something prepared to fill that gap (He taught me to be prepared), that it had earned good interest while I’d had it (He taught me to steward it), that there’s more where that came from (ie Phil 4:19), that I didn’t have to take on more consumer debt, and so forth. Remember Rom 8:1. No condemnation.
A few minutes (MINUTES!) of thanksgiving put my thing in perspective and, while not everything in the situation is perfect, it doesn’t have a hold of me any more.
@Ted
I appreciate the comment – however, I think you misunderstood me, about some trust – I too have the same goal – and you are right, thanking God for what we have been given quickly brings things back into perspective…
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