An Indescribable Freedom

By MAD21

It's hard to put into words the journey I've personally been on from being so far in debt there was no end in sight, to being in a position where I am happy to be able to say I am debt-free except for a mortgage (that will be paid off in four years, God-willing). I don't think people who are in any kind of debt, but especially large amounts of debt, fully see and understand what kind of bondage they are in. I know I didn't until I was free from it.

I remember the misery of payday... that started in the days before the actual day I got paid. The worry, knowing I would probably not have enough money to pay all my bills. Trying to figure out which credit card I could use to pay the minimum payment of another card or bill. It was awful. There was a running joke between my friends and I about how my refrigerator was always pretty much empty. It didn't bother me much, not having food in the house, somehow I always had something to eat (thank you God). But it was a symptom of something bigger. My priorities were way, way out of balance.

On the outside I looked like I had it all together. I had a good job, a few good friends, and served in a ministry that I loved passionately. But on the inside there was a lot of pain and worry, and even though I had a good job, I felt trapped. I look back on that time and wonder, if I was not in so much debt, how much more could I have done. How many opportunities did I miss by having to work so much because I was in so much debt.

At some point it began to feel like I was living someone else's life, like having no control over myself or  where I was going-or not going. One day, I got angry. I realized I didn't want to live that way anymore.  I prayed daily, (sometimes hourly!) for God to give me opportunities that would help me get free from the debt. I got a second job, stopped spending, and started paying the debt down. After a little more than two years, and more than half of my debt paid off, I was blessed enough to find a man who loved me, and joined me in my journey to freedom. We learned together how to ignore the need for immediate gratification. And more importantly, learn to ignore all the companies and banks trying to tell us how great credit was, and how "we could have it now and pay for it later.." Ya. Pay for it later.. and later, and later, and later. No way. Never again will I travel that road.

There was an article written by Heather Koerner from Boundless Magazine that was originally posted in December of 2006. A year and a half before the economic crisis that we are in now even began. It's called, "Vulnerable to the Enemy." In it, she talks about how people, including military personnel, who miss out on opportunities because of their debt. Our debt isn't only a financial problem. It can impact every aspect of our life. It is a viscous cycle that has to be stopped. Both in our immediate families,and in our country in general.

As Heather Koerner says in her article,"...that freedom can be sweet. Imagine being able to turn to the Lord and say, 'I am not encumbered by this world. I am not in its debt; it is not my master. I will keep myself free to do your work." It's a little more difficult to tell the Lord that you will go where He sends you, but only after you've made your 98 months of payments.'"

Think about that the next time you have to have the latest gadget, car, house or vacation. How important is it.. really.