6 Prayers For Guiding Your Family Through Financial Hardship

My husband and I have had more than our fair share of financial hardship over our twenty-one-year marriage. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the stress that we sometimes forget that there are three of us in this marriage—God, my husband, and me. While my husband and I worry over the struggle, God never does. Through Him, things always work out.

We have found scripture and prayer to be comforting during financial hardship. Below are six Bible verses and prayers that I have found helpful in guiding us through tough times.

Godliness With Contentment

Reference Scripture

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV) says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I find myself worrying about the earthly fears of the cost of living. I know sometimes I want things I do not need. Please, Father God, continue to provide the things we need and help our hearts remain content with all the many blessings that we have.

Thank You for always making sure that our family’s needs are met. Amen.

Saving Money

Reference Scripture

Proverbs 13:11(NIV) tells us, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”

Prayer

Father God, we desire to save money for the future and gather it little by little as Your Word tells us to. Please guide our choices so that we can make the necessary budgeting decisions while also gathering our funds to make them grow. We are so abundantly blessed. Father, thank You for providing for all our needs. Amen.

Meeting Basic Needs (Rent/Mortgage, Bills, Food)

Reference Scripture

According to Luke 12.22-24, “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!'”

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I worry so much about money, paying bills, and buying food and clothes. Jesus told his disciples, “Not [to] worry about [their] life.” He suggested we consider the raven and how God feeds them.

I know we are more valuable to You than birds. Please help me to remember the scripture here and apply it to my heart. I bring my worries and anxiety to Your feet, Lord. Thank You for meeting our needs. Amen.

Provision

Reference Scripture

Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV) reminds us, Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

Prayer

Father God, even when our cupboards and fridges are nearly bare, they never become empty. You satisfy our thirst and fill our bellies through Your unfailing love. Please sit with us as we budget our needs and guide our choices.

We are so grateful for Your many wonderful deeds and have been so blessed by them. Thank You, Father, for our many blessings. Amen.

Paying Off Debt

Reference Scripture

Romans 13:8 (NIV) encourages us to “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us organize our money to pay off our debt so that none remains standing. We know that this will take time. Please help us make wise financial choices and be patient as we work through paying off the things we owe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Diligence Without Giving Up

Reference Scriptures

Proverbs 10:4 (NIV) says, “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth,” while Proverbs 10:22 (NIV) reminds us that “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”

Prayer

Dear God, please keep our hands diligent so we may experience the blessing of enough wealth to cover our expenses without worry. We don’t want to be rich just to have our needs met. We are content with what we have, and we know that You provide for our every need.

Thank you, Father, for meeting our needs and for Your love and compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God is Here to Guide Us

Deuteronomy 8:18 says to “remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”

This passage warned the Israelites to avoid greed by seeking wealth outside of God. I think this caution is applicable even today.

We should seek God out in all things, even our finances. He wants us to talk to Him and come to Him for help. He gives us the ability to produce wealth, but when we get stuck, the provision is always there. God is always there.

As someone with sometimes crippling anxiety, money matters have always been a trigger for me. I often feel guilty that we don’t have more money as a family since I stay at home with our children.

I worry our kids won’t have as much as I want them to, but I find they are content with what they have, even grateful.

They do instinctively what the Bible tells us adults to do.

Be content, and when you worry, remember Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV). “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.”