Behind every policy shift or market reaction are real people trying to pay rent, afford food, keep jobs, and hold on to hope. For many, the growing anxiety over money is not theoretical, it’s deeply personal. What if I can’t afford next month’s bills? What if things get worse? What if there’s not enough?
In the bible, Jesus never dismissed concerns about money or it’s place in our lives. He taught about money frequently - not to shame us for needing it, but to help us see clearly what place it should hold in our hearts. In moments of financial stress, it’s natural to ask, “What about me?” However, the Gospel also nudges us to ask, “What about them?”.
Tariffs, trade barriers, and economic instability disproportionately affect the world’s poorest communities. Many countries rely heavily on exports to wealthier nations to sustain their economies. When tariffs are introduced, paused, reintroduced, paused again — seemingly at a moment’s notice — or when aid is reduced, entire communities can find themselves cut off from essential income.
Financial uncertainty doesn’t only impact faraway places. In wealthier nations too, many are feeling the anxiety caused by financial uncertainty. There are people who have worked hard their whole lives, who are nearing retirement with shrinking savings, or families facing rising costs and uncertain futures. Financial uncertainty crosses borders and backgrounds. While its weight may not fall evenly, it is heavy for many.
The gap between “what about me” and “what about them” becomes exponentially more uncomfortable in these situations. But followers of Jesus are called to live in that tension - to neither dismiss our own needs nor forget the needs of others. And that’s not easy.
For those who follow Jesus, each day is lived in the belief that God sees us, knows our needs, and gently draws us toward a world where no one is forgotten. When we pray, “Give us today our daily bread,” we are not just asking for food or finances. We are expressing a deep trust that God will sustain us, one day at a time, even though times of uncertainty.
Prayer isn’t a last resort; it’s a faithful response that shapes the Kingdom of God here and now. We pray because we believe God is at work - in governments, in economies, in hearts - and because we want to be part of God’s work as well.
Click here to download a printable version of Pray the News.