Not Enough? How to Handle Money Fear When You Can’t Control Everything
- Paul Willis
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
There’s a particular kind of fear that doesn’t just live in your thoughts — it lives in your body.
It’s the stomach-drop feeling when you think about bills, job security, the future, or the next unexpected expense.
I call it money fear.
And money fear has a pattern: it makes us scramble faster.
We try to control everything. We tighten our grip. We rush. We overthink. We lose sleep. We carry it alone.
But there’s a moment in The Pursuit of Happyness (great movie BTW) that quietly points toward a better way.
The Rubik Cube lesson: the center doesn’t move
In the taxi scene, Chris Gardner says something simple about a Rubik Cube and profound for our lives:
The center pieces don’t move.
If you’ve ever tried to solve one, you know that’s true. The center color is the color that side of the cube must be. Find the center and you know the color to make that side. Everything can feel scrambled — but the center stays put. The center tells you what you’re building toward.
And that’s where money fear gets t-r-i-c-k-y.
When life feels unstable (and it does for us all a times), money fear tries to convince us that our worth is unstable too.
So let me clarify what I mean when I say “worth”:
Not your net worth. Your worth as a person.
Your bank account can change.
Your circumstances can change.
But your worth as a human being, as God's child, is not something you earn or lose.
When everything feels like “not enough,” the first step is to remember what doesn’t move.
Why “not enough” hurts so deeply
For many of us, “not enough” isn’t just about money.
It’s about what money represents:
Safety
Stability
Providing for the people we love
Being responsible
Feeling like we have a future
So when money feels tight, it doesn’t just create stress — it can create shame.
You may find yourself thinking:
“I’m failing.”
“I should be further along.”
“I’m one setback away.”
“If I don’t hold everything together, everything falls apart.”
That last one is important, because for a lot of us…
Money fear is really a control fear.
Money fear often turns into control fear
When you’re anxious about money, you can start living like everything depends on you - it's all up to YOU! Then this happens...
You start trying to control outcomes you can’t actually control:
the job market
inflation
unexpected expenses
other people’s choices
timing
opportunities opening or closing
That’s exhausting. And it’s one reason money fear can feel spiritually heavy too — it pulls us into the belief that:
“If I don’t carry this, no one will.”
But you were never meant to carry life alone.
A simple practice: one layer at a time
I love the Rubik's Cube. Here are six fun facts:
It was invented by Ernő Rubik - yeah, the guys last name.
It has 43 quintillion possible configurations. I guess guessing is out of the question.
But the puzzle can be solved in 20 moves. Yep. 20.
It was released May 19, 1974. I was 1 year old. Cute baby too.
A $2.5 million dollar Rubik's Cube was made with diamonds. Because...why not?
Speed-Cubing is a thing. Human record 3.13 seconds. AI under a second. Tiny bit scary.
Fun facts aside! Here's something to ponder:
When a Rubik’s Cube is scrambled, you don’t solve it all at once.
You solve it one layer at a time.
That’s a gift for anyone feeling overwhelmed.
Here’s a simple plan you can use today:
Step 1: Find the center before you touch the pieces
Say this out loud:
“I’m under pressure… but I’m not worthless.”
If you can’t fully believe it yet, that’s okay. Borrow the words for now. Let it be a handrail.
Step 2: Choose one controllable “next right step” in the next 24 hours
Not ten steps. Not everything. Just ONE.
Examples:
submit one job application
send one follow-up email
make one phone call
set one payment plan
ask one trusted person for help
take one hour to learn or refresh a skill
Money fear screams, “Fix it all now.”
Wisdom says, “Build one layer. Make one move.”
Step 3: Show up even if you feel behind
In the internship interview scene, Chris shows up imperfect — and he tells the truth.
That matters, because money fear often pushes us into two traps:
1. Hide until you feel “ready.”
2. Control everything so you never feel exposed again.
But progress often looks like this:
showing up imperfect.
One email. One call. One conversation. One step.
The faith weave: God’s love doesn’t move
Earlier I said your worth doesn’t move.
Here’s why I believe that goes deeper than positivity:
God’s love doesn’t move.
God moves, his love for you doesn't.
Not when you’re ahead.
Not when you’re behind.
Not when you feel strong.
Not when you feel afraid.
Money fear says: “Control everything or you’re not safe.”
God’s love says: “You are loved — now take the next right step.”
Love first. Step second.
A gentle question for you
If you’re feeling “not enough” right now:
What’s your “one layer” move in the next 24 hours?
One call. One application. One conversation. One plan.
Write it down. Say it out loud. And if you can, tell a safe person. Fear grows in isolation — but it weakens when you bring it into the light.
Watch the Video
If you want to watch the Pastor Reacts episode that inspired this post, you can find it here:
And the follow-up Simple Faith teaching (Part 2) will go deeper on why money fear becomes control fear — and how to trust God when you can’t control outcomes. Video drops Saturday 6pm. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr3_RVHhnNhRbaUdMmu97uXeZ1O-c5W8x
Here are two good sources to help:
Come Join the Simple Faith Tribe!
Always remember this:
God loves you and so do I!
Pastor Paul
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