Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Everything. Even be patient when it doesn’t seem like I can be patient. Even be comfortable when comfort isn’t much. Looking at a couple of bills I know I can’t pay until I get back to work. Ah, get back to work.

1 Samuel 2:7 (NLT)
7 The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.

I wonder why that is. Poor, like evil – gotta ask why. Yet, how do we know what rich is unless there is poor? How do we get the chance to give if there’s no one to give to? How do we grow in faith and service unless there is a time and place for faith and service? How do we know how to give like Christ gave to us unless there is need, a we can understand, like we needed him?

God has his reasons that I’ll never understand until I am in His presence and understand fully. I live for eternity, because eternity is all that matters. What happens to us here doesn’t matter. What we do here, the decisions we make, the path we take, does.

Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Not having enough money to pay a couple of bills is a decidedly western problem, a rich western problem, since the biggie is a medical bill that insurance didn’t cover.
At least I had insurance.
At least I could go to the hospital.
At least I had a hospital I could go to.
At least they had the latest medical equipment to diagnose the problem.
At least they had the treatment to cure what ailed me.
At least the hospital wasn’t being used as a base for murder and terrorist operations.
At least I had a warm home to come home to.
At least I had a home.
At least the list of blessings goes on and on.

At least I have Christ. At least I have hope. At least I am blessed more than I deserve. At least I can do anything through Christ, who gives me strength.

At least everyone can have the same strength, peace and hope if they choose.