Why Am I So Afraid to Look at My Bank Account?

Speaker A00:00:00

You know that feeling, don't you? That cold, tight knot right in your stomach just at the thought of checking your bank balance.Or hey, maybe you're feeling that same thing when you think about opening that latest credit card statement.And maybe, like so many people, you constantly avoid looking at your numbers because you've got that fear what you might see and it might just be too much for you. Well, stick with me today because I'm going to tell you exactly how to face that fear head on and, and finally break that cycle.This is Financially Confident Christian, your daily dose of gospel grounded insight and faith driven tips to help you break the cycle of financial shame with confidence. Hey there. Welcome back to your daily Financially Confident Christian.I'm Ralph and I'm so happy you've chose to join me today as we work together to become financially confident Christians. And if you missed yesterday's show, we launched our new 30 day series, Breaking Financial Change.I promised to give you 30 days to overcome your toughest money struggles. And yesterday we bravely tackled the shame of an isolation that often surrounds our money problems.So if you missed it, I'm going to encourage you to go check it out.You can find all of our episodes@financiallyconfidentchristian.com well, today we're going to build on that courage by confronting something that for many of us feels even more daunting than even talking about it. And that's actually looking at the numbers. So today I want to answer this very difficult question. Why am I so afraid to look at my bank account?Hey, you know what, exactly what I'm talking about, don't you? Bet you're listening right now and you're like, Ralph, you're talking to me today. You got that unopened envelope judging you from the counter.It's been sitting on that kitchen counter for a few days. You're like, rob, I know I should open it up, but I just don't want to deal with it.Or maybe you open up your email and you've got that email notification from your bank and you just avoid it. You're like, oh boy, maybe another overdraft notice. I just can't deal with that today.Or maybe, just maybe, you got to go online to make a transfer and you just zip across that online bank and just hoping you don't see a number just so you can get to that transfer button. What you're really doing though, is you're actively avoiding your financial reality and that deep struggle. It's a deep nagging dread.It's, it's that fear of confirming your worst fears. Finances just aren't in order. Ralph. It's bad. You don't understand just how bad it is.And Ralph, I'm feeling overwhelmed, and in so many ways, I just don't know what to do. Ralph. And if you continue to avoid it, it leads to paralyzing avoidance.And the problem with that is it eventually leads to you relinquishing all control over it. And I've seen this play out way too many times with people that I've worked with, people that I've counseled and coached.That unknown, that fear of not knowing, that unknown becomes scarier than the reality. And all that does is build stress of not knowing, and that piles on money worries. And then you feel absolutely powerless.But here's the thing I want you to hear today. Actively avoiding financial reality is keeping you trapped in a thick fog and a heavy darkness. And here's a brutal truth, a brutal reality.You can't navigate a path forward if you don't know where you are, if you don't know where you're starting. And I've got some great scripture verses that lead us right to that.Let's talk about my first biblical principle today, and that's light versus darkness, because that's really what we're talking about today. Let's talk talking about bringing these things finally into the light. Let's look at the book of Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 8 tells us this.For you were once darkness, but now you are the light in the world. Live as children of the light. Wow, that's pretty deep, isn't it?But if you think about it, bringing things into the light allows you to see them clearly, it allows you to understand them, and it allows you to actually gain clarity. For you were once darkness, but now you are in the light. Live as children of the light. That's what Ephesians 5. 8 tells us.Let's look at another biblical principle, and that's God's spirit of power. And here's a vital truth for your heart. I want you to hear this, and I want you to hear this loud and clear today.So many people I work with live in this fear. But here's the thing. God has not given any of us a spirit of fear.Let's look at second Timothy, chapter one, verse seven, because this is powerful and it's a liberating reminder. It says what it says. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of self. Discipline.Now, you might not know what that word timidity really means, but what it means is shrinking back. And if you think about the broader picture of that, that really means fear. You're living in that fear.And here's the thing I want you to hear right now. God gives you power to act even when terrified. Ask yourself right now, how many times have you been terrified over a situation? I've been there.There are times in my life when I was terrified. I had no idea what was coming next. But it was in those times that I recognized that God gives you power to act even when you're terrified.So that's what I want you to do today. Because honestly, facing financial reality is a bold act of Godly courage.Not talking about being fearless, that we should always be in fear of the Lord, but I am talking about acting with courage because you've got the access to God's strength to look at what feels scary. So now you're asking, how do we move from this paralyzing fear, Ralph, to facing finances with courage and peace? I want to do that, Ralph.You're speaking to me directly today. I want to do this. I want to do it right now. Well, here's my solution for you today. You don't have to do anything bold and broad.Just take one small, intentional step, just one piece of your financial picture, and do it empowered by God's constant presence with you. Because, listen, if you try to look at everything, you're going to get overwhelmed.I just want you to take just one brave peek because that's a powerful act of faith and a direct defiance against fear. So here's your one action step today with the goal to face your financial reality with courage. I just want you to pick one.Maybe it's a bank statement, maybe it's a credit card statement. Just one of those things. And look at it today. Maybe that's your main checking account balance. You just been avoiding it.You don't want to see the reality of it. Maybe it's that one credit card statement like you I said earlier, it's sitting on the counter. Haven't even opened it up.You don't even want to look at it. Maybe it's that nagging bill they keep on sending you those collection notices on. They keep on sending you those emails.So just pick one of those things, whatever that is in your life, and then the next step is to pray for courage. I always bring it back to prayer. Before you click, before you open or even glance at it.I just want you to pause and Take a deep breath and just offer a simple heart heartful prayer. Something like this. God, I feel I truly am afraid to look at this number. And I just ask that you would give me courage and peace as I face this.Help me to remember you are right here with me. So find that bill and then pray for courage and then just take a look and open it up. Just look at that one thing.Open that app, open that online banking app, open that email, open that envelope. Just look at that specific number you chose. Avoid looking at other things because then you will feel overwhelmed.Just absorb that one piece of information because I just want you to have one victory for today. And once you've done that, it is the most important part of this.Just thank God once you see it, close it if you need to, but then immediately thank God for the strength to take that step. And then I just want you to resist that negative self talk because it'll be so easy to get back into that self talk.But you just did an incredible brave thing. You faced a fear head on with the power of God at your side. And what you've done is fought that struggle of avoidance and that paralyzing fear.And you've brought crucial light. That's what we talked about today.We've brought a crucial piece of financial information into the light and we've broken that silence, we've broken that scary unknown with truth. And it's a practical way to exercise God given spirit of power and self discipline in your life. How about we pray together now?Father God, we thank you for the powerful reminder that you have not given us a spirit of fear. And Lord, we confess that facing our financial numbers often feels overwhelming, Lord, and it feels scary. It just leads us to avoid them altogether.Please fill our hearts with courage and your peace right now, Lord. And I pray specifically for my friend listening right now. Help them to take that brave step to look at just one financial number today, Lord.They don't have to solve all the problems, just look at one and be intimately with them as they do that. And Lord, I just ask that you would calm their anxiety, grant them crystal clear clarity, Lord, and help them to trust you.Because you are infinitely bigger than any number that they'll ever gonna see. And I just thank you so much for empowering us to walk boldly in the light and in truth. And I ask this in confidence, Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.Listen, taking that step to look at your finances, even just one number is an incredibly brave and empowering move for you. You need to congratulate yourself for that. You are actively shifting today from avoidance to decisive action. And you're empowered by God's strength.So keep taking those steps.And if today's step has encouraged you to face your numbers, I want you to consider sharing it with somebody else who might need to hear this message today. I've mentioned this on the show before.There are a lot of people out there struggling and stuck in that financial shame, that cycle of financial shame. And you're sharing this show with them, sharing this episode with them might be the thing that they need to hear.Just point them right to our website. That's financially confidentchristian.com and while you're there, I want to give you something. I just wrote a new book.It's called how to Become a Financially Confident Christian. And I want to give you a copy of that book. You can get that by going to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/becoming.This is a book I wrote with the goal of helping you break that cycle of financial shame and finally step into confidence. I want to give that to you for free. You just go to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/becoming and get your free copy today.Now, tomorrow, we're going to continue our 30 Days of Money struggles. We're going to talk about another common financial struggle. This is one that I have to admit, I've felt this myself, and it's this.Why your money might disappear so fast every month and how to gain clarity over its flow. You don't want to miss tomorrow's show. It's going to be impactful. So make sure you join me now today.Let's all go out there and be those financially confident Christians that we aspire to be. You can do this. I have confidence in you. Have confidence in yourself. Stay financially savvy. God bless you. And you have a great day today.