I almost missed the twenty-dollar bill glistening in the rain gutter. It caught my eye at the last second as I exited my car and walked up to the front porch of my house. Andrew Jackson’s stoic face was slightly muddled by the downpour, but it was still twenty bucks I could dry out on my kitchen table and put in my wallet. Free money! I thought.

Right before I found that twenty, I had been sitting in my car, praying for God to provide financially because I was worried about money. I’d been out of school for a few months and was struggling to find work. Student loans had been deferred for a season, but rent, groceries, and everyday expenses never took a break.

Maybe you’ve experienced this too—the more you try not to worry about money, the more it occupies your mind. Finances can feel like an oppressive burden that never lets up. I don’t think we’re meant to live our lives in a state of confusion and worry.

I started to laugh when I saw the money floating in a puddle that day because I’ve never had God answer a prayer that fast. It was as if he was telling me, “I can make it rain money if I want to.”

“She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25)

It’s time we remembered how to laugh at the days to come like the woman in Proverbs 31. Money worries can steal your joy, and I don’t want to live my life that way.

I believe that God doesn’t want us to feel enslaved to our worries about money and here are some practical steps we can take to stop worrying about money:

1. Distract yourself.

We all can get caught in a worry loop, so watch a light-hearted comedy. Ask your roommate/spouse if anything funny happened at work. Download a new game on your phone. Print off coloring pages. (All of these activities are practically free!)

2. Seek Out Experts.

Ask for advice from someone you know whose financial habits you admire. You don’t have to adopt everything they do, but you might gain a new skill that helps you approach a problem from a new angle. They’ll probably be flattered you asked! Try taking a financial or business class that is relevant to your needs.

3. Memorize an Inspiring Quote or Verse.

Choose a Bible verse to quote to yourself when you start to worry about money. Or memorize a quote from a public or religious figure you admire. Borrow wisdom instead of trouble. Sometimes our brains are like toddlers and just need to be gently redirected.😊

4. Practice Mindfulness.

Be mindful about where your money goes. There is a plethora of budgeting apps you can try out; see what works best for you. Some people swear by a cash envelope system instead of digital currency. If you don’t have income yet, you can base your budget on your expenses. The most important thing about budgeting, in my experience, is that it helps you to be mindful about where your money goes. Mindfulness, which means being more aware and present in the moment, is a great tool for many different areas of your life.

5. Give Back.

I know you shouldn’t donate or tithe solely for the warm fuzzy feelings, but it really does feel good to give your money away, especially to a church, person, or cause you love. Try it! If your income is sporadic (or nonexistent) you can try giving away part of your time, student loan money, or gifts you receive. If this causes you a lot of panic or hesitation, start with an amount you’re comfortable with and go from there. Pray for somebody you know who needs financial provision. This one is kind of dangerous because God might ask YOU to be the answer to this prayer.

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Finding twenty dollars in the gutter didn’t solve any of my worries back then. But being reminded that I follow a God who cares about me, that changed my perspective forever. Saying, “Don’t worry,” doesn’t solve anything, but boldly stepping out in faith and action does.

We are precious to God. God takes our muddy, wrinkled, soggy selves going to waste in the gutter and sees a treasure. He sees promise in our lives. He picks us up from the ground and gives us purpose. He’d give everything he has just to gain us back.

“God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” (1 Peter 1:18-20)