Today we continue our month-long look at Love & Money with a wonderfully honest account about what to do when you're faced with job loss and struggling to provide for your family.

by Teri Blanchard

I couldn’t believe it. I heard it happening to others but I never thought it would actually happen to me! Nevertheless, there I was… without a job. I was a single parent with no income and no idea how we were going to make ends meet. How could this happen? Why me? What was I going to do? Where was I going to get the money to support us?

After my little pity party, immediately I updated my resume. I searched the classifieds. I went on interview after interview and called everyone I knew for a job.  But I was getting nowhere fast. The bills started coming in with late notices. The refrigerator became emptier every day. The power was shut off the same day the eviction notice came. That was it. I was no longer holding on by a thread but had reached the end of my rope.

Angrily I cried out to God, “Please help me, I can’t do this anymore!”  That was precisely what He was waiting to hear. I had to stop trying to do it all myself and start looking to Him. So, I began to pray each day. I read my Bible every day. I buried myself in the Psalms. I went to church whenever the doors were open. I even watched the Christian television channel! I began to thank Him for what I did have and not focus on what I didn’t have. I wrote Scriptures about His provision on index cards and placed them all around the house. Scriptures such as:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mattthew 6:33 KJV)

”Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will and He will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it…” (Psalm 24:1 LB)

I began to realize that my part was to seek Him and His ways, and His part was to provide for us and take care of us.  And He did. Certainly not in the way I had wanted or expected but He did provide.  We were able to qualify for government housing, free medical care and food assistance, as well as receive an income of $200.00 a month …for a year! But you see God used that year to completely change me and my life as I drew closer to Him. I began to trust Him as He provided in every way that we needed.

Most importantly, I learned that He alone is my provider; not a person, not a job, not the economy.  He owns it all and He provides it all. I may not know why things happen, what to do about them or where the money will come from. But, I do know the One who does know. And when I put Him first, He will provide the rest.

Terri Owens Blanchard is a wife, mother, and Mimi to her precious granddaughter. She is a Mary Kay Consultant, a small group leader to the Military Wives group, and an assistant small group coach. She loves to shop, travel, and shop as she travels! She also enjoys spending time with family, friends and her crazy pets.