His Road Stretches Straight and Smooth

At the moment the number of new clients for the Ely and District CAP Debt Centre is fairly slow, filling appointments for the month but no long waits ahead. We may be seeing fewer cases at the moment, but these are often much more complex and debt is often only one of many other burdens that each client has to bear every day. Easing the burden of debt through the CAP journey can help lift one of these burdens and help give signposting and space to help with the others, but for many clients debt freedom can be only temporary when low or negative incomes prevent financial stability.

Pre-Covid, most clients debt journey was by a payment plan, they had sufficient income with budgeting to be able to pay off their debts over a period of time. This also helped build financial skills and stability through budgeting and the active involvement of the client in this process. Now, most clients route to debt freedom is via insolvency; bankruptcy or Debt Relief Order. These write off debts after a certain period, resulting in debt freedom but often those on low or negative incomes cannot avoid falling into a cycle of debt. This also makes cases more complex, as there is need to get into the cause of debt as well as provide a solution and to provide follow on care and support through debt coach and befriender support, Income Maximisation and building financial knowledge and resilience through Money Coaching. All this alongside signposting to support for other issues that impact a 'normal' life.

And the most important thing that the Ely and Distrcit CAP team can bring to our clients, that no other debt service can provide, is one-to-one support in clients own homes and the message of love that they bring into those homes.

Isaiah 41: 1, 10

“Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen!

Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength.

Gather around me. Say what’s on your heart.

Together let’s decide what’s right.

Don’t panic. I’m with you.

There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you

With God, we can sit down in a space of quiet and rest and truly say what is on our hearts, even the things that we are afraid to say to ourselves, and through His strength and love decide what is right. Travelling with God is a safe space within the troubles of the world, a smooth path through the rocks and deserts of life. Even if we loose that path for a while, through God and the support of His family we can find it again and know the peace and strength of His love in our lives.

Psalm 18: 30 (MSG)

What a God! His road

stretches straight and smooth.

Every God-direction is road-tested.

Everyone who runs toward him

Makes it.

Prayer

Please pray for our Ely and District CAP clients who are facing many worries and burdens in their lives as well as the burden of debt, pray that the loving support of the Ely and District CAP team along the road to debt freedom and the knowledge of the God who strengthens and upholds them will give them the support, love and strength they need to follow the road ahead through all life's troubles.

Pray for our debt coaches and visit team, for the message of God's love that they bring to the homes of our clients, that it may be a source of inspiration and comfort. Pray for all the team that they will be strengthened and refreshed in God's love to be empowered to carry on with this Kingdom work.

Pray for another client debt free this week, taking the Ely and District CAP Debt Centre total to 98. Pray that they can feel relief now that the burden of debt has been removed and space to rest and refresh for the journey ahead.