“Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?” (Mark 8:17,18)

Financial stress can burden a marriage. Mark and I can attest to this first hand. At one particular season not long ago we left a handsome salary in a large church and stepped out to do full-time ministry with Youth With A Mission, firmly believing it was God’s plan. Just then my appendix burst and our newly acquired health insurance covered less than expected: $10,000 gone… Within a week, we purchased a car that had been totaled, cosmetically fixed, but proved to be unfit for driving: $12,000 down the proverbial toilet… Furthermore, we tried and failed to sell our house at the worst possible time in recent history: $Oodles slipped away… One thing after another went wrong and one set back after another prevailed. We were broke and very, very discouraged.

That discouragement gave way to much strife in our relationship. After knocking heads one too many times, we knocked some sense into those heads and determined what we should have known: that in times of severe stress, we absolutely must stay united! Our prayers depended on it, for Jesus taught us that prayer involves agreement. If we were at odds with one another we simply couldn’t agree in prayer. So we agreed to agree! We strengthened our relationship and started to get some traction moving forward. It took some time, some effort, and a whole lot of Dave Ramsey, but God walked us through to victory and delivered us from debt and restored joy to our marriage. We thank God!

Father,

I give you my financial stress and mess. I refuse to allow strife to hinder my agreement with my spouse. We will cling to you and your wisdom! We will cling to your promises! And we will cling to each other until this storm passes.  In Jesus’ Name Amen

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? …You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong.” (James 4:1,2,3)

“If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.” (Matthew 18:19)