For most people, Trust and Obey are the words of a familiar hymn. But for Steve and Lisa Haggard and their family, learning to trust and obey God financially has reshaped their lives.
In 2009, Steve and Lisa Haggard were dealing with change. They had just married four years earlier, were still adjusting to life as a blended family, and were trying to navigate through Steve losing his job and Lisa pursuing a new career. Finances were already stretched to the limit, so tithing was the furthest idea from their minds. But then they began to see God provide at all the right moments. A random check in the mail for the exact amount of a pressing bill. Funds arriving right before the mortgage was due. Soon the Haggards realized that these random blessings didn’t just reflect perfect timing; they emphasized God’s timing. And it was time to start trusting Him completely with their money.
The Haggards began to tithe consistently from their gross income, and quickly felt the stretch on their budget and lifestyle. But they knew God had called them to be faithful, that God had specific plans for their lives, and that He always blessed those who obeyed Him. Therefore they refused to waiver, and tithing became a permanent priority in their lives.
Within the next year, God also reminded the Haggards that tithing was an act of worship. Like others, Steve and Lisa had mixed feelings about the decision to change the name from Westlink to Pathway. They even considered re-allocating part of their tithe to other ministries. But God soon impressed upon them that their obedience to tithe fully to their church body regardless of the circumstances ultimately reflected how much they truly trusted Him. They remembered that advancing the Gospel was the end goal of their giving, making their obedience what mattered most.
Today, Steve and Lisa continually reflect on God’s blessings on their family. They have both earned undergraduate and graduate degrees, have dramatically reduced their overall debt, and have actually been able to increase their giving to Pathway. They still struggle and their lives are far from perfect, but they are forever thankful for the primary lesson that God has taught them: all He wants us to do is trust and obey.
“Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
Than to trust and obey…”
By Lisa Haggard | Edited by Ross Fitch | Photo by Christa Eskridge