I’ve discovered in my life that whatever I ran away from, I will eventually go back and face. There’s no escaping the hard lessons. Ignoring it doesn’t work, avoiding it doesn’t work, refusing to confront or deal with it doesn’t work.

These lessons just came back, and I will need to go through it. I’ve gone through some just one time. And there are some I needed to go through over and over again, and I’m talking about money lessons, the hard lessons.

And don’t you think that when you “pass” a lesson, you’d move on to the next. Past money lessons come back with “refresher exams.” You’d need to pass through it again. It may not be in the near future, but somewhere down your life, you will re-learn these lessons.

This is how life works. This is how God carved it. He will allow it and use it as a sword gets dull and needs sharpening over the same rock.

I received a letter from one of my readers asking me about her credit card debt. The letter reads:

Good day, Mr. Jim. I have three credit cards and I use each for very specific reasons. I pay them all off in full when the bill comes, and for the past seven years I’ve never had any serious credit card debt.

This year, I started dating a guy and have grown to trust him that I allowed him to make a huge purchase through one of my credit cards. He assured me that before the due date arrives, he’d pay it in full. But you see, before the due date arrived, we broke up!

Now he doesn’t answer my calls, texts and emails begging him to pay.

I know I am absolutely to blame. This wouldn’t have happened if I have not allowed it. Because the credit card loan was a huge amount, I couldn’t pay it off with what I make. I think it’s unfair that I’m left to pay it off. Is it right if I just ignore the bills, change all my contact details (address, phone, email) so the credit card company won’t go after me? I need your advice!

This is an extremely hard lesson to learn. And no matter how you attempt to avoid it, ignore it, run away from it, you can’t! The only way you will be free from this is when you honorably stand your ground.

Now I know you feel it’s unfair, but actually it’s not. It’s the MOST FAIR thing in the world. And you know what’s it called?

It’s called CONSEQUENCE: The result of the financial error that you alone have made. Do not fear consequences. Look at it as a lesson that you are going through. Use it as a stepping stone towards more financial wisdom. You will never make the same mistake again. God has made this lesson so true to you that you will remember to avoid it next time. Consequences are important in your life. You should understand it with utmost respect.

Anything that you fear will always have power and authority over you.

Now I may sound a little too harsh, but I have a sense that you are a strong-willed person and you know the right thing to do. You’ve been paying off your credit card bills in full for the past seven years, and that has a lot to say about your personal control and integrity. I pray you keep your character strong and honorable through this tough time.

Keep your faith. Your “huge” credit card bill is NO MATCH to God. You can be sure that nothing, absolutely nothing, will keep you from having what God wants you to have, if you do what God wants you to do. God wants you to be free from this, and freedom will only happen if you do it His way. (Talk to your pastor or close counselor about it.)

Plan a way towards repayment. However hard the coming days would be, make a commitment to pay. God will be honored, and He will bless you in ways that will surprise you. He is our Provider. And you will definitely come to know God like you;ve never known Him in the past.

Remember:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Utanggalin is a weekly article supporting the Freedom from Debt Campaign by Crown Financial Philippines in cooperation with the CBN Asia Family of Ministries.

Has this article blessed you? Please tell us about it! You may reach us by sending an email to utanggalin@crown.org.ph. We are here to help you get started towards the road to true financial freedom.

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Jim Reyes is a veteran radio broadcaster, and recently the National Director of a Christian Media Ministry in the Philippines. For the past 18-years he has been involved with broadcasting ministries such as FEBC Philippines, United Christian Broadcasters & Trans World Radio Philippines. He is the husband of Ma. Teresa Reyes and a father to a cyberkid, Charis Reyes.