Devotional: The Almighty Dollar – Trusting God With What Comes Next
“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Proverbs 21:20 (NIV)
What would it look like if you had space to breathe in your finances? Not a perfect plan. Not everything figured out. Just a little room to exhale. How might that change the way you make decisions, respond to pressure, and experience peace in your life?
That’s what Proverbs invites us to consider.
So many of us are tired. Not just emotionally or physically, but financially tired. The constant mental math. The low-grade anxiety that hums beneath everyday life. The feeling that one unexpected expense could knock everything sideways. That pressure doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means life is heavy.
Scripture does not meet us here with shame. It meets us with wisdom. Proverbs paints a picture of a life that isn’t constantly scrambling, not because it has more, but because it has space. The wise store up. They leave room. They refuse to live right at the edge of everything all the time.
Financial margin creates that kind of space. Space to pause before reacting. Space to pray instead of panic. Space to remember that God is not surprised by our needs or limited by our resources.
When there is no margin, urgency takes over. Every decision feels immediate. Every choice feels loaded. And slowly, without realizing it, we start living as though everything depends on us. But margin interrupts that lie. It reminds us that God is present, attentive, and still leading.
Margin is not about control or fear. It is not about proving anything to anyone. It is about creating enough room in our lives to hear God clearly and respond with trust. It is about choosing peace over pressure, wisdom over hurry.
This passage is not a warning. It is an invitation. God is not standing over us disappointed in our finances. He is inviting us into freedom. A slower, steadier way of living that trusts His wisdom more than our urgency.
Prayer
God, You see the pressure we carry. You know the places where everything feels urgent and overwhelming. Help us slow down enough to listen for Your wisdom. Create space in our hearts and in our lives so we can trust You instead of rushing ahead. Lead us into peace, patience, and obedience. Amen.
Discussion Questions
Where do you feel the most financial pressure right now?
How does urgency affect the way you make money decisions?
What would change if you created a little financial margin to listen for God’s wisdom?
What is one small, realistic step you could take toward margin this week?
This Week’s Practice
Rather than trying to fix everything at once, start with awareness. For one week, track where your money is actually going. Not to judge yourself or feel guilty, but simply to see clearly.
As you notice your spending and financial pressure points, ask God this simple, honest question:
“Is margin possible here? And would You help me find it?”
Financial margin is not about having more money. It is about having space. Space to listen. Space to trust. Space to obey God with peace instead of pressure.
