Can You Be Spiritually Free While Still in Debt?

Have you noticed how debt doesn't just touch your wallet, it touches your peace. It follows you into your quiet moments, into your car rides, into your prayers. And for so many of us, it can feel like chains.It's not always loud, but it's always there. It's always present. And what's wild is this. You can be making progress and still feel trapped.So, friend, if that's you today, this episode is a place to finally breathe. Because real freedom starts deeper than a balance sheet, and it can start right now. So let's answer today's question.Can you be spiritually free while still in debt? Hey, friend. Ralph Estep Jr. Here.Welcome to the Financially Confident Christian, where we learn to walk through life and money with wisdom, with peace, and with a heart anchored in God's truth. My mission is simple.To help you break the cycle of financial shame, build steady habits rooted in faith, and become the kind of believer who handles money with clarity, with confidence, and with deep spiritual purpose. Yesterday we talked about credit card debt. We talked about the interest and creating those boundaries and finally breaking the cycle.But today, I want to zoom out a bit, because some of you aren't just dealing with a payment. You're dealing with a feeling. You're feeling like you're owned. You're feeling like you're stuck. You're feeling like you can't even breathe.So today is a reset. It's a real life reset for a regular day, a work day, a tired day, and I'm doing my best day.And we're going to talk today about freedom from financial slavery. I'm not just talking about your numbers, but deep down in your soul.A listener once asked me, ralph, I'm paying things down, but I still feel trapped inside. Why doesn't progress always feel like freedom? You know, I thought about that, and when someone asked that, I know what they're really saying.They're saying, ralph, I'm doing the work, but, man, my heart is still tired. And that's because underneath that question is this. And so many of us have felt this. I'm making progress, but the fear is still there.I'm paying it down, man, but I still feel behind. I thought freedom would feel lighter by now. So, friends, you're not crazy for feeling that. Debt is not just math. Debt carries emotion.Debt carries memory. For so many of us, debt carries regret, and debt carries pressure. And for so many people, debt becomes a daily master, not just a monthly bill.Let's say it plainly. Scripture actually describes this feeling. Look at Proverbs 22, 7. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.Now, listen, a lot of people would say, man, that is a verse that just shames me. But that's not why it's here. It's not here to shame you. I believe it's here to name the weight. To say this, yes, debt can feel like slavery.Because what is slavery? It's about control. And debt can start controlling us. It controls our options. It controls our confidence. It controls our sleep.It controls our marriage conversations. And it controls our ability to be generous. So if you've ever felt that you're not weak, you're human.I remember a while back, someone telling me, ralph, my debt made me feel owned. And before we even talk strategy with her, I talk surrender.Because we were trying to fight debt with sheer willpower while carrying that shame like a backpack pool of bricks. Backpacks full of bricks are heavy. So we did something simple. It wasn't fancy. It wasn't dramatic. We started praying over their debt.Not with panic, but with trust. Trust in what the Lord could do. Now, I would love to tell you that the balances vanished overnight.The balances didn't vanish overnight, but something shifted. That fear loosened its grip. And once peace returned, wise decision follows, because peace doesn't erase responsibility.You still have responsibility for the debt, but peace gives you strength to walk it out. So here's what I want you to know. Today, financial slavery is often internal. First, let's start there. Financial slavery isn't just what you owe.It's what your debt tries to make you believe. It whispers things like this. You'll never catch up. You've ruined everything. You're a terrible, bad steward.You're behind everybody else, and you don't deserve peace yet. And I want you to understand something. That voice is not from God, because shame is a liar. But conviction leads to change. Shame leads to hiding.So here's the first breakthrough. Freedom begins when you stop letting debt name you. See, debt is a tool, but it makes a terrible lord. Debt can be a tool.It can be a very powerful tool, but it cannot be your master. A master demands, but a tool serves. So the question is, is your debt something you're managing or something that's managing you?That one hurts, doesn't it? Because if every decision you make is driven by fear, that's not stewardship. That's bondage. And God didn't save you to live controlled by panic.But Christ offers freedom that starts right at this moment. This is the heart of it look at John 8:36. So if the sun sets you free, you will be free indeed. Notice what Jesus does not say.He doesn't say, if the balance hits zero, then you'll be free indeed. No, that's not what he says. He says he offers freedom in the middle of the mess.Freedom that says you are mine, freedom that says you are not condemned, freedom that says you are not disqualified, and freedom that says you are not alone in this. Dead may be part of your story, but it's not your identity. And that peace is a weapon against bad decisions. Let me say this gently.A panicked heart makes expensive choices. I've made those expensive choices myself, See, because fear rushes us to do things. Fear hides.Fear swipes that card again and fear grabs the quick fix. That's what fear does. But peace slows you down. Peace helps you tell the truth. Peace helps you make a plan. Peace helps you stay consistent.Look at Philippians 4, 6, 7. It says, do not be anxious about anything. But in every situation, by prayer petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds. In Christ Jesus. Debt wants your mind racing. God offers a guard. But that freedom will grow through honesty and some simple steps.And this part matters. Freedom is not some vibe. It's not some feeling. Freedom is built. Hear me on that. It's built. And it's built with truth. It's built with small steps.It's built with consistency. And yes, it's built with community. So here's what that can look like. Number one thing, name it. What do you actually owe? Number two, face it.Not with shame, but with clarity. And number three, plan it just one simple next step. It doesn't have to be a perfect plan. It just needs to be a doable plan.And number four, repeat it. Because freedom isn't one decision. It's a bunch of new decisions that's taking you in a new direction. Well, let's make this practical.Right after this episode, I want you to take 60 seconds, just one minute, and here's what I want you to do. I want you to write down the top three debts, just the names of them.And next to each one of them, I want you to write one word of how it makes you feel. Does it make you feel fear? Does it make you feel embarrassed? Does it make you feel tired? Does it make you feel stuck?So the name of the debt, and how does it make you feel? And then I want you to pray one sentence. Jesus, meet me here. That's it.Just Jesus, meet me here because you're breaking the pattern of silent suffering and you're bringing it into the light. And freedom loves the light. How about we pray together? Lord, thank you that you are near. In our lives, some of us feel overwhelmed.Some of us feel ashamed. Some of us feel trapped. But your word says that in Christ we are free. So today, meet us in the pressure. Replace panic with peace.Replace shame with wisdom and replace isolation with support. Ask that you would give us courage to face what's real and strength to take the next step. We trust you for provision, Lord.We trust you for guidance and we trust you for our daily bread. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen. So here's your action step Today. I want you to pray over your debts by name. Not in fear, but in faith.And then take one small step that matches your prayer. Maybe it's a phone call, maybe it's that one budget line. Maybe it's that boundary making that automatic payment. Or it's that one conversation.Because I want you to hear this and I want you to hear this loud and clear. Small steps bring big freedom, big friend. Freedom grows in safe places. And you don't have to carry this alone.Inside the financially confident community, people say things like, this is where I stop letting debt define me. If you need encouragement, if you need accountability and you need to be around people who get it, come join us.Come to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/join again. That's financiallyconfidentchristian.com/Join. Let me leave you with this. You are not owned by your debt.You are not behind God's timing, and you are not walking alone. Freedom is not a finish line. Freedom is a way of walking with Jesus, one faithful step at a time.So today, be that financially confident Christian that I know you can be. Take that faithful one step at a time. Because you can do this. Stay financially savvy. God bless you and you have a great day today.