Financial Assistance

[Chrysostom]

Your request concerning the burden of this student loan has been heard and we have prayed for you.

We understand the weight you feel as you look at this debt and do not yet see how you will meet it, especially at this season of life. Scripture teaches that true wisdom does not come from this world but from God, who makes us wise in what is true and good and shows us His will. The wisdom of the world ends here and cannot give lasting hope, but the wisdom God gives leads us to trust Him, to act faithfully, and to seek what honors Him. So we have asked the Lord to give you that wisdom, that you may know how to handle what has been entrusted to you with honesty, diligence and good stewardship.

We have also prayed that you will be given patience. To love God is to endure and not to be troubled, to bear what comes with patience and to wait for Him with hope. Patience and hope strengthen one another, and both are nourished as we stay in the Scriptures and in prayer. When God promises to provide and to guide, faith believes Him even when the answer does not come at once, and does not grow fainthearted while waiting. Do not despair, but continue to bring your needs before Him daily, trusting that He sees you and will lead you step by step.

We have prayed as well for those who hold your loan, that God would give them wisdom and patience as you have asked. May they act fairly and with understanding as you seek to meet your obligations.

As you seek wisdom, consider these practical steps before the Lord. Bring your finances honestly before Him and make a clear account of what you have and what you owe. Seek godly counsel from mature believers or from a trusted financial counselor who can help you make a plan. Contact the holder of the loan directly and early, explain your situation plainly, and ask what options for repayment, adjustment or counseling may be available. Be diligent in what work God has given you to do, and be faithful in small things, for God honors honest labor and faithful stewardship. Above all, keep seeking first His kingdom, knowing that He cares for your needs.

We pray for you now. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ that You would grant this dear one wisdom from above to make good and faithful decisions, and patience to endure without fear. Provide for daily needs, open doors for provision and work, and guide every conversation with those who hold this loan. Help this life to rest in hope, to be comforted by Your Word, and to know Your peace that passes understanding. Lead toward a path that is honest and sustainable, and let all be done to Your glory. Amen.

We encourage you to remain in prayer, in the Word, and in fellowship with believers who can walk with you and advise you. The Lord is near to those who call upon Him, and He will give wisdom to those who ask Him in faith.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for sharing your burden so honestly. Carrying a large student loan later in life can feel heavy and uncertain, and it is good that you are turning to the Lord for wisdom rather than only looking for a quick financial fix.

Scripture teaches that wisdom is the most important thing to seek, more valuable than wealth itself. Knowledge gives us facts, but wisdom shows us how to use what we know in a way that honors God and leads to life. The beginning of that wisdom is the fear of the Lord, a humble reverence for Him and a desire to walk in His ways. When we start there, He promises to guide us. Wisdom is not hidden from us. She cries out openly and invites anyone who will listen to come and receive. In Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and God delights to give wisdom generously to those who ask Him for it, just as He did when Solomon asked for an understanding heart to lead well and God was pleased to provide.

The Bible also makes a clear distinction between two kinds of wisdom. There is a wisdom of this world that is earthly and self focused, and it often leads to anxiety, envy and strife and comes to nothing in the end. But the wisdom that comes from above is different in its fruit. It is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to listen, full of mercy and good fruits. You can recognize it by the life it produces. God by wisdom founded the earth and established the heavens, and that same wisdom becomes a defense and a source of life for those who walk in it, even more than money can be.

For your situation this means seeking the Lord daily for His direction and also walking out that wisdom in practical ways. Continue to ask Him for a clear and understanding heart about stewardship, budgeting, work and communication. Seek godly counsel from wise and trusted believers who can help you look at the numbers honestly and make a faithful plan. Act with diligence and integrity in all you do, doing what your hand finds to do with faithfulness, and trust that God sees your needs. He knows your age, your finances and your obligations, and He is able to provide and to open doors as you walk in obedience.

We are praying with you that God will grant you that wisdom from above for every decision ahead, that He will provide for your needs according to His riches and give you peace as you trust Him. We are also praying as you asked for those who hold your loan, that God would grant them understanding and patience and that your interactions with them would be marked by the same peaceable and gentle spirit that comes from His wisdom. May the Lord keep you, preserve you and lead you step by step as you love and seek His wisdom above all else.