How a $480 Overdraft Taught Me to Let Go
A few years ago, while starting my business, I found my account overdrafted by -$480. Rent was due in three days—$750—and I had no idea where the money would come from. I kept telling myself, "I need to trust."
The third day came and went. Nothing. The second day came and went. Nothing. One day left. I told myself, "God knows I need it today, so I'll be fine."
Day one came and left. Nothing. Rent was due. Still nothing.
At this point, fear and anxiety hit hard. It was uncomfortable. Honestly, I didn't know what to do. I started questioning everything—my spiritual journey, my business goals of becoming a full-time photographer. Was this all a joke?
I was pushed to the edge. The fear and anxiety kept creeping in, but something in me kept saying:
"Just trust. Keep quiet."
I tried reaching out to friends for a loan. Still nothing.
Two days after rent was due, I lay on my couch with zero options left. I finally said, "Okay, God. I don’t know what to do. I’m giving it up to you."
A couple of hours later, my phone started blowing up with real estate photo orders:
$300 $150 $750 $450 $150
Within two hours!
That day, I paid my rent without repercussions and got my account back in good standing.
I've had many experiences like this, but this one stands out. We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Let’s just face that fact. Let’s breathe it in and breathe it out. Let’s make peace with the unknown.
“Leave the future alone. Stay here. Be present. The future will take care of itself.” —Mooji
Lessons from This Experience:
1. Universal Timing Runs the Show
In my mind, I was supposed to get the money the day rent was due—like in the movies. But instead, it came a few days late.
Was God late? Did He forget about me?
No.
I needed to be completely squeezed out. I learned more from the experience this way than if the money had arrived "on time."
2. Your Ego Panics—Your True Self Doesn’t
When challenges arise, it’s your ego that gets uncomfortable—not your true self.
Put your attention on your sense of being. Feel it out. Our awareness—our real self—is always shining. It’s just a matter of where your attention goes.
Our higher self is not panicking when the rent is due. That may sound crazy, but it doesn’t mean you ignore your responsibilities and go live in the woods.
There’s a deeper knowing inside us, beyond logical deduction. It knows there’s a time for things to unfold. The more we quiet our minds, the more we flow with life’s unseen perfection.
3. Trust, but Take Action
I know I just spent the first part of this newsletter saying "just trust, and it’ll be okay." But that doesn’t mean sit around and do nothing.
During that stressful week, I was reaching out to people, posting on social media, and looking for extra work. I can’t remember if anyone responded in that moment, but I know I’ve gotten many clients just by sending a simple text or DM.
God gave us brains, hands, and free will. Use them.
Early in my spiritual journey, I leaned too much into faith without action. It was necessary at the time because it helped me see how powerful grace is. But later, I became complacent and lazy.
Sometimes, God wants us to get up and work. He had to create the whole world, after all.
There’s a balancing act here:
Yes, be still and trust God.
Yes, get up and take action.
Both are true at the same time. That’s the beauty of life.
4. Stillness Isn’t Inactivity
Stillness doesn’t mean not moving. It doesn’t mean sitting in one place doing nothing.
It’s an internal state.
To "be still" means to notice that quiet place within you—that space of pure awareness beyond the mind. It’s always there. It’s your true nature.
Simple Action Steps:
Find Stillness Daily – Meditate, exercise, pray, or do anything that helps calm your mind. The goal is to let your attention rest in your heart, free from distractions. Be persistent. Anxiety and panic are strong habits, but you can break them.
Listen to Your Intuition – When you quiet the noise, it’s easier to recognize your inner voice. Many voices will try to pull you in different directions, but deep down, you already know when and where to move. Trusting your intuition takes practice. You’ll make mistakes, but that’s part of the process.
I’m running out of gas on writing this, so I’ll wrap it up here.
If this resonated with you, please subscribe to the newsletter. I’m also offering 1-on-1 sessions for anyone who feels called to them!
Much love,
Michael