During the past decade in America, inflation has dropped steadily, unemployment numbers are the lowest of any 10-year period within the past century, and the stock market hit highs that were unimaginable two decades ago.

In other words, over the last 10 years we have experienced unrestricted economic prosperity—a decade in which deficits, debts, and interest payments apparently did not matter and millionaires seemed to emerge (at least on paper) overnight.

Nevertheless, in the very midst of this decade of unprecedented affluence, business and personal bankruptcy reached an all time high, and personal indebtedness exploded to almost $2 trillion. This translates into an average consumer debt load of over $14,000 per family in America.

This debt load in turn has spawned among Christians unequaled discouragement and a sense of hopelessness, marriage difficulties, and fear and dread of the future.

So, why such a paradox? Why do Christians have so much fear and discouragement when, generally speaking, they are more affluent now than at any other time in the history of America?

Discouragement
Discouragement is one of many symptoms associated with financial problems.

Although sometimes discouragement is caused by financial situations directly, all too often Christians become discouraged because they have adjusted their expectations to what everyone else around them expects, rather than what God expects of them.

These Christians suffer from unrealistic expectations of what God promised (see James 1:2).

They put subtle pressures on each other to achieve success as a testimony to the Lord’s blessing in their lives. Some believe that the failure to achieve success must represent spiritual failure.

What a defeating philosophy to think that Christians should never have problems or to think that we are being punished by God when we do have problems!

Paul was a man of God who was constantly presented with new challenges and surrounded by problems (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). However, it was his attitude and constant focus upon God that always caused him to triumph in Christ.

Throughout the Word of God are recorded incidences, like the case of the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, when God miraculously delivered His servants from impossible situations, but not before they first had to be subjected to the pressures of those situations.

Many Christians very well may be finding themselves in similar situations. However, in the midst of those situations God will respond.

His response will be subject to His timetable, not necessarily dependent on either our desires or our needs. “I know the plans that I have for you. . . plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Although we as Christians often have to go through trials that seem unbearable, it is during those times that God’s grace and comfort will never leave us and our prayers will never be ignored.

In 1572, John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, became a victim of Queen Mary’s burning stake because he would not recant his nonconformist stand for Christ. As the flames ascended around him he cried out with a loud voice, “When I was young and now that I am old, my Savior has never failed my need nor made deaf my prayers at the time that I needed Him most.”

So, as John well knew, God will answer. It may not be at the exact time that we think it should be or when we want it, but He will not turn a deaf ear to our prayers.

Sometimes God changes our circumstances and delivers miraculously, as in the case of Paul and Silas; at other times He does not deliver but, rather, He changes our perspective of those circumstances and gives the strength to endure, as He did for John Knox.

Trust in the Lord
God may desire to change the whole situation tomorrow, but before any changes are made, or whether any changes are made, He desires for us to trust in Him.

Acceptance of the direction our Heavenly Father desires to give will enable all who are discouraged to “enter that rest” spoken of in Hebrews 4 and promised by Jesus. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

Christians should be encouraged to cling to the Lord during difficult and discouraging times. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”

As we depend on Him and allow Him to direct us through our most discouraging situations, He can provide protection against disappointment, bitterness, anger, and an unforgiving spirit.

When we find ourselves in a position of weakness, that is when God can demonstrate His real strength (see 2 Corinthians 12:10). God is not merely an observer of our lives; He is a participant. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2,3).

Conclusion
Regardless of what we have been through or what we will have to go through, our Lord is there alongside of us. God shows Himself faithful in all situations regardless of the circumstances, but it may not always be in the manner we prefer.

As we surrender our rights to Him, He will show His favor.

If we place ourselves at His disposal, He will meet our needs and guide us along His paths.