The latest numbers put inflation at about 3%. That may sound mild compared to the 9% wildfire we endured in 2022, but let’s not fool ourselves. It still means higher prices, thinner savings, and slower progress for families already stretched to the limit. Politicians in Washington can pat themselves on the back all they want, but the grocery store doesn’t care about their press conferences, and neither does your gas tank.

Think of it this way: if prices go up 3% every year, and your wages don’t, you lose 3% of your purchasing power annually. Over five years, that’s roughly a 15% pay cut in disguise. Gas, rent, utilities, and insurance all slowly erode your hard work.

The Bible says, “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight” (Proverbs 11:1). Inflation is, in a sense, a false balance. It makes the dollar look the same on paper, but worth less in the store.

The Blame Game

Now, let’s be honest: both political parties had a hand in this mess. Democrats spent too freely on social programs and subsidies that overheated the economy, while Republicans have had their own spending sprees, especially when it came to ballooning budgets and defense projects.

Fiscal responsibility isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a math issue. You can’t print, borrow, and spend forever without the bill showing up on the kitchen table. Washington treats the national debt like it’s Monopoly money, but everyday Americans know the difference between make-believe cash and a real credit card statement.

The Fed’s Tightrope Act

The Federal Reserve is walking a tightrope: trying to tame inflation without knocking the economy off balance. They’ve kept interest rates high to cool things down, and sure, it’s helped a little. But let’s not hand out trophies just yet. The Fed can’t exactly claim credit for putting out a fire it helped start by leaving the money taps wide open for too long.

Now they’re stuck playing referee between two bad options: raise rates and risk a slowdown or ease up and risk letting inflation flare back up. It’s a classic “pick your poison” moment, and the average American’s wallet is caught in the middle.

The best move now is simple: stay disciplined, stop over-managing the economy, and let the free market do what it does best: reward hard work and innovation. Government tinkering rarely fixes problems; it usually just creates new ones.

Stewardship in a Squeezed Economy

When prices climb and paychecks don’t, it’s easy to get frustrated. But from a Christian perspective, that’s when wisdom and stewardship matter most. God doesn’t promise us an easy economy. He calls us to live wisely within it.

Proverbs 21:20 reminds us, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” In other words, the wise store up and plan ahead; the foolish burn through what they have. Inflation is a good reminder to tighten the budget, save where you can, and avoid the trap of living for today at the expense of tomorrow.

We can’t control what the Fed or Congress does, but we can control our own habits: spend less than we make, give faithfully, and prepare for leaner times. Stewardship isn’t just about money; it’s about trust. It’s about showing God that we can be faithful in little things, even when the numbers don’t seem to add up.

The Bottom Line

Inflation might not be making front-page panic anymore, but it’s still quietly nibbling away at the average American’s paycheck. It’s a slow, steady drain on hard work and savings.

Until prices settle and paychecks stretch a little farther, families will keep feeling the pinch. The truth is, the American economy isn’t healed; it’s just catching its breath. And Washington still hasn’t learned the oldest lesson in the book: you can’t spend your way out of a spending problem.

If our leaders really want to help, they should stop trying to buy votes with borrowed money and start rebuilding the trust they’ve spent into oblivion. Less debt, fewer gimmicks, and more discipline. That’s what gets a nation back on track.

In the meantime, the rest of us will keep doing what Americans have always done: tighten the belt, work hard, and trust that God’s provision outlasts any politician’s promise.