Women and Money - She Handled It!Sample

Day 2: God never wastes a hurt

As I sat in my alone in my apartment, being crushed by the deafening silence, God was starting some serious work in this 24-year-old divorced zoologist. I just didn’t know it yet, since I had no relationship with God.

Here I was, grappling with the stark realization that my dream job of running a wildlife rehabilitation center could no longer pay my bills and meet my most basic needs. I was devastated and utterly broken to the core, as all my value was put into two things; my romantic relationship (that afforded me the finer things in life) and working with wildlife. In just a couple of months, things I put in motion caused me to lose them both. I now had nothing that made me feel valuable or worthy (Jer. 29:11).

Now everything had been stripped away, including all my friends, dream job and financial support (2 Corinthians 12:9). To add insult to injury, I had to get what many people called “a real job” (aka. one that made more than a $100/week stipend). Not working with wildlife anymore sounded like a life doomed to hard labor. I could not imagine a fulfilling life outside of animals. I had to give up my dream to seek after money; “what a sellout,” or so that is what I thought.

As I floundered, trying to discover the new path for my life, one of my new friends connected me with a man she “bumped” into at a local coffee shop. As she gave up her table to him, he asked if she knew of anyone looking for a job, as he was hiring at his new financial planning firm. I reluctantly went on that job interview and was offered (and accepted) the entry level position. It was the ONLY job interview this newly divorced 24-year-old went on (Joshua 1:9). One. A new passion was born.

I discovered a deep desire and purpose to help women take responsibility for their financial security, whether married or single. To believe that she could handle it.

Reflection: Are you able to answer the question of, “Am I going to be (financially) okay?” And if not, why?

Tip: Start the habit now of saving something. Even $25/month (you can increase down the road). Get into the automatic habit where the money is pulled right from your paycheck (before it ever goes into your bank account) into a retirement account or IRA. It is the small things that add up and create great habits for your future. Start NOW, start with any amount.