Tough Times Don't Last but Tough People Do! Perhaps you've heard of this saying and book title. This exhortation to grinding out the difficult circumstances in life appeals to the American spirit of never giving up. However, real life doesn't always work that way, especially in an economy that is demanding more than many people can give.

Well intentioned people borrowed money to purchase houses under the premise they could continue to draw a salary from their employer or continue to operate their businees at a level whereby they could maintain their monthly obligations. Unfortunately their employer experienced a business downturn and was forced to reduce payroll by eliminating the very job relied upon to meet monthly expenses. The business owner and the worker want to maintain their integrity by faithfully remitting the funds necessary to make agreed upon payments to all creditors. Due to circumstances beyond their control, they are simply unable to accomplish their desired goal of repaying the debt to which they had commited. The result is anguish that oftentimes leads to depression.

There is no easy answer to this scenario except to realize that all decisions are good when they are made. Some decisions just turn bad later. There is nothing you can do about a decision in the past. The time is gone and you can't go back and correct that mistake. The only remedy is to not make that same mistake again.

If you find yourself in a financial quaigmire, you are not alone. Millions of other Americans have joined you, maybe for the first time in their life. Continue to work hard and try to emerge from the burden of debt that has encompassed many Americans. But all the while thanking God for what you do have and ministering to the needs of others. When your focus is on the person and path of one seeking their own selfish ambition, you are in for a long arduous time. While we travel the same sod, let us encourage, exhort, and empathize with one another.

Remember, we all have problems. Some problems are just more socially acceptable than others.