Warding Off the Fear of Our Demise
written by: Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
I am well into my sixth generation of life, and I do not believe it is any easier or harder than fifty years ago. Stress? When I was in elementary school, we had nuclear bomb drills, and our only supposed protection was crawling under our flimsy, plywood top desk. When I was in 6th grade, we had police officers at my elementary school in Garland, Texas, because a parent brought a gun into the school and apparently threatened to shoot his child. Bad stuff used to happen then, too. Often, potentially violent situations were not included in local television news and even local newspapers. I've mentioned before the mass shooting in Palm Bay, Florida, in 1986 that killed others, including a church member. While shootings are more abundant now, part of our struggle presently is that the hundreds of news and other media sites reintroducing the horror to us 24/7.
Similarly, a cynical outlook on the future includes our financial future. An article in Business Insider entitled "Young people are developing 'money dysmorphia'" addresses how people in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s view their financial future from a warped perspective. Some live far beyond their means without realistically understanding how their spending will adversely affect their later life. While an uncertain future removes their trust, they cannot see enough hope to spend on necessities or invest in the market because the world feels too unstable. The article's writer, Julia Pugachevsky, quotes a financial therapist who defines financial dysmorphia as "a negative and unrealistic perception of one's financial wellness or financial position." Like shootings, finances can also perpetuate negative perceptions that lead to emotional paralysis.
The financial therapist, Amanda Clayman describes the financial negativity as "pervasive worry, vigilance-like an internalized feeling of unsafety with money," even when serious financial issues are absent. Pugachevsky states, "Self-comparison fuels money dysmorphia." Seeing others' supposed high life causes us to keep up and spend beyond our means. Further, "Some expectations around money are dated." Most people are presently required to self-fund their retirement. You add anxiety about safely investing enough to retire, with the world chaos threatening financial growth, and many are left with financial hopelessness.
The key to overcoming underlying fear of things we cannot control, including financial dysmorphia, is twofold. First, reflecting on our history is essential. 2008 was a horrific year with the worst economy since the great depression, and we recovered. Even the Great Depression, as bad as it was, did not destroy the world. Financial ups and downs can be painful, but investment remains a long-term answer. Second, trusting in God's ongoing care for our world will provide new hope. We cannot depend upon God to keep our Stock Portfolio running ahead of the national average, but we can prayerfully trust God to provide for our survival, even in the most challenging moments. Investing in God and this world remains a worthwhile way to live.
