Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24–25

---

My parents loved the show “Dateline” growing up. I remember one particular episode about drunk driving. I don’t remember the exact statistics, but the episode explored the phenomenon that a disproportionate number of car accidents involving alcohol result in the death of others but not the people who are intoxicated. The theory was that because alcohol is a depressant, people driving while intoxicated are relaxed, resulting in fewer injuries and fatalities than those who tense up due to their body’s natural fight-or-flight response. The “Dateline” advice was simple: if you’re going to be in a car accident, try to relax.

Fast forward a few months, and I was driving to my job after school. At a blind turn, I pulled out and looked to my left to see an SUV barreling toward me. In that split-second, knowing I would be hit, I somehow remembered that random episode—I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and relaxed my body. 

I woke up in the hospital, but miraculously, I had no other injuries. The police report on the accident indicated I should be dead or, at the very least, permanently disabled. Following that simple instruction to relax saved my life.

I believe God calls us to trust Him in a similar manner. We often go through life white-knuckled, desperately trying to control uncontrollable situations. This desperate clinging is especially true when it comes to money. When some of us see trouble coming—a downturn in the stock market or the possibility of layoffs at work—our natural response is to tense up and hold tighter to what little we have. Others of us have a lot, but we are afraid to trust God with our money—we have worked so hard to earn what we have—that we can’t help but hold it tightly. It’s like telling our bodies to relax while a car comes barreling towards us. 

The paradox of Christ is that He asks us to do the opposite of what might come naturally—“Relax. Trust me,” He whispers. “Give freely, and you’ll gain more.” The freedom Christ promises goes against our nature. As is true with every area of our life, the more we trust the wisdom of the Bible, the more fully we can experience the peace that passes understanding.

Next Steps

Each of us is in a different financial situation. For some of us, giving is easy, but we don’t have much to offer. For others of us, we have a lot, but we are always thinking of the emergency situations that could come up and have a hard time trusting God with our finances. Read more about how Willow talks about generosity, and then prayerfully consider what your next step in generosity may be. 

What other area in your life is a stronghold that God is inviting you to release to Him, even though it doesn’t make earthly sense to do so?