WITH THE CURRENT downturn in the global economy and the credit crisis, getting a college education has suddenly become trickier. In the United States, students are looking for creative ways to pursue or continue their studies when they fail to quality for loans, despite the fact that the government has proposed changes to make funding for a college education easier. An article in The Christian Science Monitor reported on several new websites cropping up that enable students to look into unusual fundraising options, sometimes by presenting their financial needs to family and friends online in order to get private loans (February 18, 2009, "Need a college loan? Ask your friends online").

The efforts by this handful of students echo a larger cry by thousands more. For example, in California alone, students may be turned away next year as the state university system struggles to balance its budget. Funding is on the chopping block, and tuition hikes loom (San Francisco Chronicle, March 19, 2009 and The New York Times, April 30, 2009).

It's no secret that higher education is an open door to increased opportunities. What can be done, though, if hopes are dashed because of increased financial pressures? Or, if and when resources are available, how can students find the support they need to push through the quagmire of necessary paperwork required to obtain financial help?

As someone who used to work in the social services field, I know how easy it is to identify people in terms of the "haves" and "have-nots." It seems that some individuals start off in life with more reserves than others. Those reserves may come in the form of money, or parental involvement, or academic ability. But these are all material measurements for judging a person's chances of success, and I've learned that God doesn't see His creation that way at all. A prayerful perspective presents a stronger stand that defines the youth of today in terms of their spiriutal parentage—born of God, and not bound to economic or social conditions. Adopting such a spiritual view will open up new ways to support their educational progress.

This raises the question, How did our divine Parent create us? Would He give more to some, and leave others to fend for themselves? The very first chapter of Genesis makes it clear that God made man and woman in His own image (verse 27). And He saw that His creation was "very good" (verse 31). So this spiritual foundation of existence, because wholly good, must include justice and balance. Created by the divine Parent, no one can be separated, even for a moment, from the perfection of God's love and the ability to discover his or her potential.

It's not naïve to pray for the livelihood of the world's youth and to lean on spiritual concepts for finding solutions. We can pray even more earnestly to see that everyone, including government officials and those who run educational institutions, are equally receptive to the spiritual truths that transform jarring, unbalanced, often unfair economic conditions. In fact, effective prayer isn't about creating opportunities, gaining money, or making society equal, but rather seeing everyone as already blessed with opportunity, intelligence, ability, and the strength to move forward.

Not long ago a friend called me to pray for him. He'd been offered a scholarship for a summer program in his field of study, but he didn't have the money for the airfare, housing, or registration fees. His family was not in a financial position to help him. There was a two-week deadline to commit to the program and make the arrangements.

As we talked, he gained confidence in his rightful heritage as a son of God. We talked about his inherent integrity as the child of his Creator. Expressing integrity actually enables us to witness the depth of life that is our true heritage. Integrity shifts our focus from lack to wholeness. We also took time to recognize that financial numbers are just that—numbers. They do not represent anything established by God, or an insurmountable mountain. Spiritual vision erases the mesmerism that causes us to give finances some sort of scary authority in our lives, an authority that only God possesses.

Within two days, this friend received a check to cover his registration fees. Another person gave him a plane ticket from her frequent flyer miles, and yet another friend offered him free housing. Prayer had opened his eyes to see more of his true potential, and revealed just the resources he needed to move forward with his plans.

These tough financial times have given us all moments to pause and acknowledge God as the source of all that we need. Each one of us can feel equally appointed to witness evidence of the rich resources available to the rising generation.

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