7 Tips for Financial Stress as a Chrisitan
This post is about bible study about money.
Written by a previous trauma therapist, a Licensed Master Social Worker, and current Student working toward her PHD learning how to bridge the gap between theology and psychology.
Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases (at no extra cost to you).
Are you looking for a bible study about money? Are you grappling with your faith wondering if you stress means you are a bad Christian? Are you wanting practical tips to combat the stress surrounding money? Then today’s bible study about money is meant for you! In this post we will discuss the impact of financial stress on the brain and seven practical tips to help you enjoy the present moment, while keeping your faith in Christ!
A Bible Study About Money
When the math isn’t adding up…
It’s midnight, and your chest feels tight. Your jaw is clenched and your brain is doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out your finances.
Rent…
Car payment…
The house repairs you weren’t prepared for…
Groceries, doctor bills, electricity, water….
They are all adding up and you don’t seem to have enough.
You’ve added and subtracted and calculated over and over but your brain will not let up. The stress of finances is wreaking havoc on your sleep. When money gets tight it doesn’t just affect your pocketbook or quality of living, it affects us on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.
Some will say you need to spend less and work harder, while others will pat you on the shoulder and say to “just trust God”. Both are well intentioned, both sting like a bee. You are trying, you are praying, and you are waiting. But the stress still takes a toll. Having faith does not replace wisdom, and neither faith nor wisdom is supposed to shame you.
The stress you are feeling from financial stress shows that your nervous system is operating exactly how Christ designed it too! However, we are not designed to operate in a constant state of stress. So how do we navigate life when finances are literally stressed out to the depth of our core?
Today, we are going to look at just that. We are going to learn what actually happens in our bodies when financial stress arises and learn practical steps to help you calm your nervous system to stop the spiral between each bill’s due date.
How Financial Stress Affects the Body
Even before you can verbally say “I can’t afford this” apart of your brain is already sounding the alarm, your amygdala. Your amygdala is your brains alarm system. It helps scan your environment of any threats and danger. So, when your bank account is overdrawn it can view that negative balance as the same danger as if a bear was chasing after you. Our brain is preprogramed to scan our environments for danger because it wants to keep us safe.
At the same time, something else is occurring within our brains. The strain of financial stress does not only affect the amygdala but also affects the prefrontal cortex (which is responsible for planning, patience, and clear-headed decisions). Under enough stress, the prefrontal cortex becomes underactive, with the amygdala becoming hyperactive.
This is why when stress levels are high, sitting down to make a game plan literally feels impossible. It’s not that you aren’t disciplined enough or that you don’t care. Your brain is actually actively fighting against using the exact part of your brain that is structured to help you plan and make clear decisive decisions.
Developing a Type of Faith That Leaves Room for Your Body
It is sad to see parts of Chrisitan culture that views stress as a lack of faith or spiritual failure. However, the same God the created the complexities of the universe and galaxies also created your nervous system and called it good.
Throughout scripture we see many keep figures struggling with the weight of this world and we do not view it as a lack of faith. Instead, we view their stories of hardship as devoted servants viewing the trials of life a record and account of the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord.
Job, David, Elijah, Paul, Thomas, Peter, Noah, David and many others wrestled with the weight of this world. And the beautiful this is God did not design us to face these trial and tribulation alone. He expects us to grapple with the hardships of this life, but more importantly to lean upon Him.
In Matthew 6 He says, “Do not worry about tomorrow,” is not the Lord shaming us for struggling with the stress of this life, but rather a reminder that tomorrow will have its own worries and there is no point on carrying the weight of tomorrow instead of the present day. He’s not shaming us for our anxiety but rather reminding us to not let the stress of tomorrow steal away the moments we have access too, right here and right now.
Having spiritual maturity and wisdom about stress is not pretending it does not exist. Rather it is the act of acknowledging the trials of this life and allowing yourself to have the act of faith in leaning on Him, despite our mind wanting to fix it immediately.
This blog post is not about finding ways to overcome financial insecurity. Instead, this post was written to remind ourselves that even when the world feels as if it is on fire, we have the capacity to move out of the fight-or-flight response and move into the present moment. Now let’s look at seven practical tips to help us move out of financial stress and into enjoying the beautiful present moment the Lord has blessed us with today!
Seven Ways to Steady Yourself When the Bills Don’t Balance
1. Trigger the Mammalian Dive Reflex: When you find yourself overwhelmed and starting to spiral about financial stress, skip the deep breathing and shock your nervous system. Splashing cold water onto your face activates the mammalian dive reflex, which is the biological response that instantly slows your heart rate and causes your nervous system to slow/calm down.
2. Use “Visuospatial Interruption” for Acute Shocks: Did you know that a game like Tetris can block your brain from processing a highly stressful event as traumatic? Trauma research has shown that playing highly visual three dimensional games for 15 minutes after receiving terrible news interrupts the brain from creating it as a traumatic event.
3. Practice “Self-Distancing” (The Third-Person Rule): Talking to yourself in the third person (e.g., “What should [Your Name] do right now?”) creates psychological distance. This reduces amygdala activation and drastically improves wise decision-making.
4. Utilize Bilateral Stimulation via “Walking Prayer”: EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation (engaging the left and right sides of the brain alternately) to process trapped stress. A brisk walk does this naturally.
5. Close the “Zeigarnik Loop”: The Zeigarnik Effect states that the human brain fixates on unfinished tasks, causing insomnia and panic. Writing a raw, unedited “brain dump” of every financial stressor gets them out of your working memory.
6. Try Cognitive Defusion (Sing Your Fears): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy uses “defusion” to detach from scary thoughts. Instead of having an internal battle within your mind, take the thought “I’m going broke,” sing it out loud to the tune of Happy Birthday. It sounds absurd, but it strips the thought of its neurological threat.
7. Values-Based Behavioral Activation: Scarcity paralyzes us. Doing one small, free activity that aligns with your deep values, like helping out a friend, interrupts financial paralysis and restores an individual’s sense of capability.
Christian Mental Health Book Recommendation
Read or Listen to some of the many books recommended on our blog for by signing up for a FREE Audible, Amazon Prime, or Kindle Unlimited FREE TRIAL.
You can read/listen to books available on audible, amazon. Audible, Prime and Kindle unlimited book availability varies by book and publisher and is not available for all books. Check availability for each book at your own discretion.
The Money Anxiety Cure: Why Half the Country Lives Paycheck to Paycheck by Dr. Godswill Olemgbe and Dr. Gee Description: This read bypasses standard spreadsheet advice to focus directly on the scarcity mindset that keeps us locked in a state of panic. The authors use a mix of behavioral science and faith to show how practicing active generosity and contentment can physically disrupt the cycle of financial fear. It is perfect for anyone feeling burned out by decision fatigue who wants to rebuild their relationship with money from the inside out.
Redeeming Money: How God Reveals and Reorients Our Hearts by Paul David Tripp Description: Instead of handing you another rigid budgeting framework, Tripp digs into the emotional and spiritual reasons behind why we stress over our bank accounts. He points out that true financial peace doesn’t come from simply earning more, but from completely surrendering our view of wealth to the Creator’s design. The book acts as a gentle reset for your heart, helping you detach your personal value from the cultural pressures of materialism.
Financial Anxiety by Brendan J. Barnicle Description: Written by a rector, this short book confronts the uncomfortable reality of money shame head-on, creating a safe space to talk about economic fears. Barnicle challenges the taboo nature of money within church walls and gives readers permission to bring their financial stress out of the dark. It’s an incredibly validating resource for anyone who feels isolated by their money struggles and wants to connect their faith to their financial reality.
Closing Thoughts
I hope today’s blog post was not only educational but also helped you draw closer to God. If you or someone you know struggling to find peace and want guidance, please connect with a therapist today! Check out TherapyforChristians.com to get connected with a faith-based provider in your area!
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Disclaimer
Educational and Spiritual Support Only: I am not your therapist. The information provided on this blog—including book recommendations, worksheets, biblical insights, coping skills, or any other content on this blog—is for educational, informational, and spiritual encouragement purposes only. No Professional Relationship Interacting with this content, including leaving comments or sending direct messages, does not create a therapist-client relationship. This blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Seek Professional Help: Always seek the advice of your physician or a licensed mental health provider regarding any medical or psychological condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. If you are in a crisis, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis hotline you all have the best and most blessed day!