Struggles
Dear ________ -
I just read your most recent blog post and was struck by the similarities to our earlier email conversations about this same topic.

I have been weighed heavy with this same issue for years. I am an investment advisor for goodness sakes and I still struggle personally with my own faults and shortcomings managing the resources entrusted to me. I am exactly where you are in this. But I've had some breakthrough on this.

You (and I) may never have a $7 million retirement account. Others surely will do "better" than we will financially. The lie is that a $7 million retirement would "complete" us. I deal with people with millions and they know no more peace than you or I do. So the first lie is that money somehow completes us. It doesn't.

The second lie is that any failures or shortcomings you and I have had in this regard have tainted us for life. It hangs over us as an accusation we cannot escape and _______, it is a lie of the foul one.

"Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
"By His stripes we are healed"
"He came to preach deliverance to the captives..."

"Captives". We are captive. Trapped. In bondage. Satan doesn't play fair. His goal is to lock you into that experience and even give you an identity in those mistakes so that he can put you in bondage over those events.

You remain in bondage over this and only the Great Liberator can free you and me of this bondage. He already has!

Here's the thing ______, rich or poor, skinny or fat...God has you and I exactly where He wants us - for reasons we may not understand but that He understands completely. I try every day to make money and grow my net worth. I try to be smart. I try to do the right thing and my money isn't multiplying itself exponentially. For years I have beaten the ever living crap out of myself over this and only very recently have I come to the place where I see that God has me where he wants me. I will be a good steward and will try to do the right thing but I may never reach "success" as the world defines it.

What has been release for me in this is the realization that God knows best. In His stripes I am healed. He has delivered me. I am free. I may never know why my efforts never "worked" and I don't need to. God has me exactly where he wants me. That is freeing.

The things of this earth will all burn up - 401(k)'s, pension plans, Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual -- it will all burn up. I know men with $10 million , $30 million and $100 million net worths and it NEVER is enough. It NEVER brings peace. It is why men build $10 million homes. It is why we buy 72 inch plasma TV's. It is why we trade cars every 2 years. We are constantly searching for that one thing that will finally bring us satisfaction and, therefore, peace.

Peace only comes from the One that has already set ________ free. You are free. Take the bondage and chains of money off. Quit dragging them around. You are complete. You are accepted. You are whole.

In Christ

Your friend Richard