When Money Becomes an Idol
Money is something we all need, but it’s so easy to let it become the focus of our lives without even realizing it. We get so caught up in the paycheck, the bills, the “what ifs,” and before we know it, money becomes the thing we rely on more than anything else. It happened to me, and honestly, it took me a while to realize just how much I had let money take control.
I worked at a job that was honestly draining me. It was toxic, stressful, and every single day I felt like I was just surviving. Anxiety attacks, panic attacks, migraines, and waking up in the morning with tears streaming down my face as I stared at myself in the mirror—this was my reality. It got so bad that I couldn’t even brush my teeth without feeling completely overwhelmed.
But here’s the kicker: no matter how miserable I was, I wouldn’t quit. Why? Because of the money. I kept telling myself that I couldn’t leave because nowhere else would pay me what I was making. I was already living paycheck to paycheck, and I was scared that if I left, I’d be making less. I told myself that I couldn’t afford to walk away from something that provided for my family. I was afraid that I’d be putting my family at risk.
What I didn’t realize was that, by staying, I was telling God, “I don’t trust that You’ll provide. I trust this paycheck more than I trust You.”
Money Becomes an Idol Without Us Realizing It
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that more money equals more security. But when we rely too heavily on money, it becomes an idol in our lives. I didn’t see it at first, but the truth is, I was putting my trust in something that would never give me peace. I was letting a paycheck determine my happiness, my health, and my future.
What I was really doing was making money the focus instead of trusting God to provide. Money, in itself, isn’t evil, but when it becomes the thing we rely on more than God, it steals our peace and distracts us from what truly matters. I was so focused on how much I was making that I wasn’t listening to what God was telling me about my job, my health, and my future. I was stuck in the cycle of fear.
The Fear of Leaving It All Behind
So eventually, after lots of prayer and reflection, I realized that I had to trust God, even if it meant walking away from what was comfortable. Even if it meant giving up the paycheck that was causing me so much stress. When I finally put in my resignation notice, I began to feel a weight lifted off my shoulders. The peace I had been longing for was slowly returning, and I was learning to rely on God instead of my paycheck.
Here’s the funny part, though. After years of staying because I was scared of making less and not being able to provide, when I finally quit—I quit without having another job lined up. Yep, you heard that right. No backup plan. Talk about putting all my trust in God, huh?
Honestly, it was terrifying. But in that moment, I realized that I had to let go of the fear that had been controlling me for so long. The paycheck I thought I couldn’t live without? Gone. But what I found instead was a peace I had been missing for so long.
What I didn’t realize was that God had something better in store for me. By leaving this job, I now have the space to focus on my side business and grow it into a full-time venture. I can pour my energy into my blog, my social media, and the online ministry I’ve been working on building. Most importantly, I can prioritize God above all else and strengthen my relationship with Him. I now have the time and freedom to focus on the podcast I’ve been wanting to create and the work I feel God is calling me to do.
Staying out of fear wasn’t helping me or my family—it was holding me back from walking into the peace and provision God had already planned for me.
Trusting God to Provide
When I think about how I stayed in that job for so long, I realize I wasn’t trusting God to provide. Instead, I was trusting my paycheck, my job, and the security it gave me. But the truth is, God doesn’t want us to live in fear of not having enough. He wants us to trust Him fully, even when the future feels uncertain. He’s our provider, not our job or our bank account.
God doesn’t want money to be the thing that controls us. He wants to be the source of our peace, our provision, and our security. If you’re in a place where money is weighing you down or you’re making decisions based on fear of not having enough, I want to encourage you today to trust God. He will provide for you, and He will lead you to exactly what you need when you place your trust in Him.
Lord, I confess that I’ve often relied too much on my paycheck and not enough on Your provision. Help me to trust You more, to let go of the fear that holds me back, and to walk in the peace that comes from knowing You are in control. Thank You for always providing for me and my family, and for helping me to trust You fully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
