Corrie ten Boom once said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”
That truth speaks directly to the way many people feel about money. When money becomes the place we look for peace, security, or identity, financial unrest is never far behind. And while it may seem like more money would solve that unrest, Scripture points us to something deeper.
Elizabeth Brickman, a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®), longtime financial advisor, and author of Wealth Blessed and Wealth Confident, has spent more than 25 years helping people think biblically about money.
Through her own financial challenges and her work with clients, she has seen that true peace does not begin with a larger bank account. It begins when we stop asking money to carry what only God can.
Why Financial Life Feels So Restless
Many people feel financially restless because life itself rarely slows down. News, markets, social media, and cultural pressure are constantly telling us that more is better, faster is necessary, and comparison is unavoidable.
That message is very different from the wisdom of Scripture.
The world encourages us to chase more. God calls us to trust Him. The world tells us to measure our worth by what we own. God reminds us that our identity is found in Christ. The world keeps us anxious about what might happen next. God invites us to seek first His Kingdom.
That doesn’t mean financial concerns are imaginary. Bills, debt, rising costs, and future needs are real. But unrest grows when those concerns become bigger in our hearts than the Lord’s faithfulness.
Elizabeth notes that this struggle is not limited to one income level. Financial unrest can affect both believers and unbelievers, the poor and the rich. That is because unrest is not ultimately about how much money we have. It is about the mindset and heart posture we bring to money.
When You Feel Overwhelmed
One common source of financial unrest is feeling overwhelmed.
When bills pile up, debt grows, or expenses feel unclear, it can be tempting to avoid the numbers altogether. Some people stop opening the mail. Others avoid checking their accounts. But avoidance usually increases anxiety rather than relieving it.
Proverbs 27:23 says, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.” In an ancient agricultural context, that meant understanding the condition of one’s livelihood. Today, the principle still applies. Wise stewardship requires clarity.
That first step can be uncomfortable. Looking honestly at income, expenses, debt, savings, and giving may feel painful at first. But clarity allows us to move from vague fear to faithful action.
Once the numbers are known, a plan can begin. We can ask questions like:
What do we owe?
What do we need to prioritize?
Where can we reduce spending?
What habits need to change?
How can we continue honoring the Lord with what He has entrusted to us?God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. Facing financial reality is not an act of fear. It can be an act of faith, trusting that the Lord meets us in the truth and gives wisdom for the next step.
