God’s Kind of Wisdom: Learning to Trust When the Paycheck Doesn’t Stretch Far Enough

When the numbers don’t add up, faith does. God’s kind of wisdom reminds us that peace isn’t found in what we can calculate, but in trusting the One who provides exactly what we need.

James 3:15

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

It’s so easy to fall into jealousy. I’ll admit, I slip into it from time to time, and I know the Lord wants me to work on that. My family has been struggling financially for a long while, and I usually keep that to myself—but today I feel the Lord pushing me to open up. I’ve made a commitment to obey whenever I feel that urging from Him. Amen.

We just can’t seem to catch up on our bills. Some days it feels like the cost of living is more than I bring home. As a man whose deepest desire is to provide, I struggle with that reality. My wife and I stay in prayer constantly, asking God to move, and the only word we keep getting is wait.

So we wait—and try our best to stay faithful.

But sometimes the enemy creeps in. He’ll flash someone in front of me who has it all together—paid bills, new toys, no worries—and that jealous thought slips in. My heart cries, “I’m faithful, Lord! Why does it feel like I’m being punished? Help me understand!”

After wrestling with those feelings for a long time, I started to see things differently. God began to teach me about His kind of wisdom—a wisdom that doesn’t measure success by money or possessions, but by faith and growth. Money isn’t guaranteed in the life of a believer. What is guaranteed is that God’s plan always has purpose. If I don’t miss the lesson, it always leads to growth.

I know some of you are in the same place—working hard, praying harder, and still wondering when things will break through. I want to encourage you: let this season push you deeper into your faith. God’s kind of wisdom doesn’t promise comfort; it promises transformation. His perfect love often feels like tough love—not because He’s harsh, but because we can be stubborn.

God will guide you and provide what you need when you truly believe that what He provides is enough. I had to let go of my desire for an extravagant lifestyle. I love cars, but I’ll never have as many as Jay Leno—and that’s okay. I might not be living in abundance right now, but maybe this is exactly where God wants me to be. Maybe there’s more to learn before He opens the next door.

Even when we pray for deliverance or financial relief, trusting God’s wisdom means accepting His will first. He knows best. That’s what childlike faith looks like—trusting even when it doesn’t make sense.

When He says, “Trust Me, My child,” our response should simply be, “Okay.” Then we move forward, knowing that we are exactly where we’re supposed to be, held in the hands of our Father.

And in that trust, we find the strength to look past the possessions of this world and say, “I only want what the Lord has for me.”

Thank You, Father, for another day. Amen.

James 3:17–18

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Want to read more?

Subscribe to edgeoffaith.org to keep reading this exclusive post.

Subscribe Now