The Best Strategy When Faced With Uncertainty

Wes and Katie Jones enjoy the beautiful scenery near their home in Arvada, CO. Wes is a youth pastor and Katie is a real estate agent. With two incomes and four rental units, they are doing well financially. As believers, a top priority for them both is tithing and giving.
        
Wes says, “There's always just a confidence in my mind that knowing that Katie and I are going to give joyfully, and we will continue to give joyfully.”
    
Katie entered the marriage with $40,000 in student loans. Both believed God wanted them to pay it down quickly.
        
Katie says, “I think we were very fortunate that we recognized that it was a burden early on in our marriage, because then we decided to do something about it sooner rather than later.”
 
Wes adds, “We tackled the highest interest first and then went down to the lowest interest and tried to really focus in on those.”
        
The couple decided to accelerate their get-out-of-debt plan by delivering Uber Eats and Door Dash. Every extra dime went towards the debt. In just a few years, the $40,000 was paid off. 
        
Katie says, “Just the relief now that this debt is gone and what kind of doors that opens for us.”

However, their financial security began to unravel when the pandemic hit. Katie’s income diminished when the state of Colorado closed-down real estate showings. Then, two tenants lost their jobs and couldn’t pay rent. Now, the couple was forced to dip into their savings each month to pay the rental properties’ mortgages. After six months, the pressure took its toll. 

Katie recalls, “There was a lot of stress in trying to figure out what we were going to do. There was some anxiety, there was some nights where I was definitely having a lot of trouble sleeping.”
        
Wes adds, “It felt like we were building a lot of momentum to keep going forward and then it just kind of came to a quick stop. It just all kind of fell through on us. I wasn't ever really scared, more just frustrated.”

The couple prayed that the situation would change before their savings ran out. Together, they decided to rely on the Lord to come through for them.

Wes says, “There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, regardless of it's dark now, God is always there, and He is the light.”
        
Katie says, “We just need to trust Him, that He is going to get us through this. And, it might not look exactly like how we want it to. But, we're going to end up okay on the other side, no matter what happens."
    
Wes and Katie agreed to continue tithing and giving, regardless of the state of their finances. 
        
Wes says, “In many ways the need for generosity was heightened, was increased with all of the need around the world, our country, our state, our city, our church. So, to continue to give and be able to support was such a huge calling."  
    
Katie adds, “It would have been so easy for us to say, "yeah, we're gonna cut back on our giving, we're gonna cut back on our tithing right now, because we're in this financial strain.' I was looking at it on paper, and the numbers don’t add it. It’s just not going to happen. And God sits back and says, “Let me see. Let me show you what I can do!”
        
When the real estate market picked back up, so did Katie’s income. And, when their tenants decided to move, the Jones’ found new renters right away. The potential financial nightmare never happened. 

Wes concludes, “When we remain obedient to God, he continually blesses us. Knowing that he will take care of you regardless, you just have to trust and be obedient in that promise."

Katie concludes, “Tithing and giving is more to show God our trust in him. God can provide for you. God can do immensely more than you can ever imagine, if you trust Him, if you come to Him, if you seek Him first."