Dave and I were talking about the “New America” as we came home from a New Year’s date. I was telling him how some of the focus of The Prudent Wife needs to be on the “new reality in America.” So many people were barreling along, doing quite well, thank you, then all the sudden, this economy has spiraled things out of control. What “was” simply isn’t, in so many lives.

Specifically, a friend had written me that their business income was HALF what it was. Half! Feeling alone, she was terrified, what does one do? We understand that. We have lived it. We went from 6 figures to $6000 the first year of our tumble!

And that causes massive readjustment of life.

It is hard to explain to the kids.

It can be hard to endure.

Hard to understand.

Hard to be content.

Hard to figure the day to day things out, how to pay the mortgage, utilities, food, and tithe, let alone any debt/entertainment/and what do you mean  you grew two inches again and need new clothes?

Sometimes, I wonder if our business did not fail 3 years ago, and we suddenly faced a mountain of debt, so that we could speak to what was coming. That perhaps the Lord’s purpose in this”Failure” was for us tolearn, then be transparent and vulnerable (no matter how difficult that can be at times) and say - hey, it CAN be done!

How about all the people we know that are losing their jobs, or dealing with rumors that the plant, business, branch, etc will be closing.

A new reality is bubbling around the edges of their lives.

For 6 months, we wondered every single Friday, whether Dave would get laid off or not. Six months. Every single Friday. That is a horrifying way to live, especially after having a business fail just before that!

We were discussing how much difficulty folks are having adjusting to these circumstances.

Some people continue to blaze right through, with nary a change in circumstances. Salary stayed the same, life got a bit expensive with gas going to above $4 a gallon, but now that it is back down to $1.40, all is well. Perhaps they cannot quite understand the struggle others are feeling.

Yet the not so fortunate that are struggling to work, some are taking new jobs, at 30%, 50% or 70% of their old pay, just so they can feed their families and pay their bills. And not complaining about it, jobs are scarce!

CNNMoney had this to say, in this excellent article “Life after a six-figure salary” With fewer jobs available, unemployed workers are taking any position they can find - even if it comes with a salary cut. Read the whole article here then tell us what you think by posting below!

We so understand the massive pay cut, and struggling to rework your life!

And you know, with the Lord’s help, we are going to make it through this. Period. He will never leave us or forsake us, it says in Hebrews. Just thinking of that verse makes me go grab it, and insert the whole little passage. Hebrews is such a great book, and this is one jewel in it.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”  Hebrews 13:5-6

And it is so very true!

Have you been struggling with the “love of money?” I have. And Lord forgive me and give me strength to overcome it.

If it is His will and we walk in obedience, the Lord is going to do great things in us and through us, if we will only let Him and stop being stubborn and stuck! He is burning things out of us that need burned out, from attitudes to habits and behaviors.

It is going to take time, and a lot of being content and accepting, to make it through, in the Lord’s grace, mercy and strength.

We can do it sisters - we can do it!