Psalm 4: Money and trauma

Could your church be carrying trauma around money?

I’m back from two different conferences presenting with my Jewish and Muslim colleagues. Both went well and my head is bursting with ideas! Chantel Chapman, Trauma of Money™'s CEO + Co-Founder was a keynote speaker at the Canadian Association of Gift Planners. Her plenary talk was intended for a secular audience but resonated with me deeply.

What if trauma around money is keeping us—individually or collectively—from taking the actions we know we should take?

Trauma around money poses a bigger question than one blog post can address! However, our Christian tradition offers hope here: prayer, Scripture, worship, gratitude, praise. God’s grace is bigger than our trauma.

My church has a weekly prayer time via Zoom. Our lectionary text this week includes Psalm 4.

In Eugene Peterson’s The Message, verses 4 to 8 read:

Complain if you must, but don’t lash out.
Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.
Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.

Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say.
“More, more.”
I have God’s more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day

Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.

In the NRSVUE version, verses 4 and 5 read:

When you are disturbed, do not sin;
    ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the Lord.

There’s so much wisdom here. Here’s my paraphrase for a congregation worried about money:

When you are disturbed about finances, fear wants you to hold tight to every cent. Remember love. Unclench and share.

Pray, pray and pray again. Listen for God’s wisdom.

What are the right sacrifices God calls you to make?

Trust that our faithful God will carry you through, as God always does.

Sending God’s encouragement to you all!