Are Credit Cards Your Friend or Foe?
Are credit cards helping you—or quietly hurting your financial peace? In this episode, Ralph Estep Jr. tackles a deeply personal and practical question many Christians wrestle with: how should we think about credit cards? From managing shame and anxiety around debt to exploring the biblical principles of stewardship, contentment, and trust, Ralph walks listeners through the spiritual and emotional weight of credit card use. With honest encouragement, practical next steps, and scriptural insight, this conversation helps you discern whether credit cards are your friend or foe.
Check out the full podcast episode here
Whether you’re carrying a balance, considering a new card, or simply trying to navigate modern money tools with wisdom, this episode provides clarity and grace. Learn how to take the first faithful step toward freedom—and how one simple action can rebuild your confidence, quiet the shame, and align your finances with your faith.
Chapters:
- 00:04 - Understanding Emotional Weight
- 01:59 - Drowning in Debt: A Call for Help
- 03:22 - Breaking Free from Shame
- 04:45 - Taking Control of Your Finances
- 07:37 - Journey to Financial Peace
- 08:31 - Navigating Financial Surprises
Takeaways:
- Feeling overwhelmed by debt is super common, and you're definitely not alone in this.
- Taking small, focused steps can help you regain control over your financial life.
- Targeting the smallest debt first can actually boost your confidence and motivation.
- It's important to gather your statements and face your financial situation head-on with bravery.
- Channeling your energy into one specific debt can help you feel empowered and less trapped.
- Remember, progress is possible, and every little win counts towards your financial freedom.
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00:00 - None
00:04 - Understanding Emotional Weight
01:59 - Drowning in Debt: A Call for Help
03:22 - Breaking Free from Shame
04:45 - Taking Control of Your Finances
07:37 - Journey to Financial Peace
08:31 - Navigating Financial Surprises
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Hey, can we talk for a moment, just you and me about that feeling?
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You know that one, when you look at those bills in your stomach just drops.
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That feeling of being stuck.
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Maybe you're barely keeping your head above water.
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It's heavy.
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I know it.
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But what if I told you there's one simple but truly powerful step that
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you can take maybe even today to start pushing back to find some breathing
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room and to quiet that voice of shame?
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Just stay with me for a few minutes today.
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Hey there, it's Ralph.
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Thank you so much for letting me share some time with you today.
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I really value these moments when we get to connect.
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This isn't just a show for me.
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It's a space where hopefully your faith and your finances can find
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some peace and and do it together.
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Because I really wanna help you break that cycle of shame.
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And I want you to do it with confidence.
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And today I wanna talk about something I know weighs heavily on your heart.
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That isolating feeling when debt feels overwhelming, it maybe
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even brings up feelings of shame and for some, maybe even guilt.
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If any of that sounds familiar, I want you to know first,
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you're not carrying this alone.
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I'm right here with you, and there truly is a path forward, a way
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to feel lighter and more hopeful.
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So let's walk that side by side today.
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You know, I got a note from someone named Alex, and, and maybe
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it'll resonate with you as well.
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Alex wrote this.
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He said, Ralph, I'm drowning in credit card debt.
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How do I get out of this mess?
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Oh, Alex, lemme just tell you, thank you so much for trusting
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me with that, that word drowning, it just says so much, doesn't it?
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And, and I find often that feeling, it, it hits so much deeper than
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just the money, stress, doesn't it?
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It touches that place inside where we feel vulnerable.
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Maybe even we feel ashamed.
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And hey, I want you to just lean in with me for a second, just between us.
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Let's talk about that feeling, that that feeling behind the numbers.
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Is it that knot in your stomach?
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Is it that secrecy?
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Maybe you feel like you have to pretend everything's okay when inside you feel
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like you're failing that feeling of shame, it's a heavy burden to carry alone.
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Isn't it?
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And maybe you feel like you're letting people down, maybe even letting
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God down, you see others in it.
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It makes you feel less than you feel completely trapped.
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And maybe you think about that verse from the Bible.
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Proverbs 22 7.
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It says, the borrower is slave to the lender.
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And if you're like me, sometimes that slavery.
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It feels like it's wrapped in shame, doesn't it?
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Keeping you quiet, stealing your confidence, maybe even holding
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you back from being the generous person that I know you want to be.
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That's specific, that isolating weight, and I want you to know I
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see it, I understand it, and I truly believe today you can break free from
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it and we can start that right now.
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So you might say, Ralph, how did we fight back?
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Not just against those balances, but against that, that feeling, that shame.
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It feels like a giant, doesn't it?
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But listen, you don't have to defeat that whole giant today.
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You just need to land one solid stone.
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You just need one powerful first step to plant your feet firmly
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and say, with confidence, no more.
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See, the way forward isn't some impossible financial gymnastics.
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It's, it's not.
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It's simple and it's what I call laser focus.
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It's you making this decision that I'm deciding right here, right
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now, I'm taking my power back, starting with this one thing.
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And instead of being swamped by it all, we're gonna channel your strength.
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We're gonna channel your determination, and we're gonna channel your
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energy into one single target.
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Here's what I want you to do.
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Pick one debt, just one, and decide this is where I start winning.
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Okay?
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So here's your move, your action step for today.
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This is how you draw that line in the sand, and I want you to do it today.
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This is how you start building back that confidence piece by piece.
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And I know it takes courage just just to face it.
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But I believe you can do this.
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So tonight or tomorrow, here's my plan.
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There are just three simple steps to this.
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The first step I want you to do, and I want you to do this gently,
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I want you to do this bravely.
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I want you to gather those statements, all those credit card
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statements, lay them out on the table.
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Now, take a deep breath when you do this because this might
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bring out a little shame.
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It might bring out a little guilt, it might bring out a little fear.
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But let me just assure you, you're stronger than these pieces of paper.
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You really are.
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So once you get them all laid out, the next thing I want you to do is just
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find the one with the smallest balance.
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That's it.
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Just whatever credit card it is, with the smallest balance.
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That's it.
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Don't analyze the interest rates right now.
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Don't worry about that.
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Just find the smallest mountain to climb first.
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And that is our target today.
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And the third thing I want you to do, and I want you to look
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at your overall money situation.
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Maybe you pray about this.
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First, I want you to find that extra bit that you can possibly
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send to just that one smallest debt this month above the minimum.
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Maybe it's just $10, maybe it's $25.
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Whatever feels possible without hurting you elsewhere.
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Commit that amount to that debt and listen this single action,
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it's more powerful than it looks.
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Because this isn't just about money.
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This is you looking at that shame right in the eye and saying, I'm fighting back.
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I'm taking control.
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I'm moving forward.
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Can you feel the strength in that?
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And see, when you knock out that first small debt, you're gonna feel that win.
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You're gonna feel a surge of confidence, a lightness you might
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not have felt in a very long time.
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And it's gonna prove something to you.
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It's gonna prove to you that progress is truly possible.
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And it's gonna start to unravel that, knot of shame, and replace
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it with the quiet strength of your own action guided by faith.
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Well, let's pause and bring this before God together today.
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Heavenly Lord, thank you for being right here with us today
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closer than our own breath.
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Lord, you see the heart of the person listening right now, Lord, you
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know the weight that they might be carrying, that worry, the anxiety,
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maybe that heavy cloak of shame.
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All related to their finances, Lord, remind them that they
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are your beloved child.
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We're so much more than any debt, and Lord, we ask that you replace
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that feeling of being trapped with your true liberating peace.
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Lord, grant them clarity, Lord, and give them the courage to take this one simple
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focused step that we talked about today.
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Lord, we ask that you would strengthen their hand and their heart to
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identify that starting point and just simply follow through, Lord.
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Help them feel your presence alongside them, reminding them that
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they don't have to do this alone.
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Lord, we ask you to build their confidence, Lord, not
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just in their actions, but
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in you, the provider and their hope.
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We ask for this in peace and your strength.
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We ask this in Jesus name.
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Amen.
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Alright, we've talked through a lot today, haven't we?
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Remember this journey is a journey to financial peace.
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It's a journey to freedom from that shame.
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I'm gonna tell you right now, it's gonna take one step at a time, and
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these are gonna be gentle steps, but they're gonna be faithful steps.
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Your first step today, our first step.
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Again, find that smallest balance, decide on that extra amount, and
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then just follow through with it.
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Take that action and you're gonna be signaling and to yourself
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that things are changing.
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And I want you to know I'm cheering you on.
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I believe in you.
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You absolutely can do this.
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So take that first brave step, and I just wanna thank you again for
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spending this time with me today.
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My prayer is that you feel a little lighter.
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Maybe you feel a little more hopeful, and I definitely want you to feel empowered
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and you can always find more resources by connecting with me@askralph.com.
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And I want you to join me tomorrow if you can.
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We're gonna talk about how to navigate those financial surprises.
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Until then, remember, you're not alone in this walk.
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And may God bless you deeply.
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May he guide your steps and fill you with his peace.
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And as I always end this show, stay financially savvy out there and I
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challenge you to have a great day.
