Do I have to Wait to Go Overseas Until I Pay Off My Student Debt?

While a yes or no answer to these complicated questions may be too simplistic, here is the guiding principle: God has unlimited resources at His disposal, but this does not release us from the responsibility to repay our debts.

Almighty God as the Generous Owner

We frequently guide our three children toward the principle of ownership: “Everything you have belongs to God.” We tell them of Psalm 24:1:

This means that everything we have—our money, possessions, relationships, real estate, career, and even our very bodies—belongs to God. We are merely temporary managers of these great gifts.

This also means that our great King has access to resources that He can release to us at any time. This isn’t prosperity thinking (“God owes me this, and will give it to me if I obey”), but Biblical ownership thinking (“God owns this, and can do with it as He pleases”).

Given a Biblical framework of ownership, we must pray to ask the Lord of abundance to provide for our greatest needs (which for many is their student debt). Have you prayed to the Lord to ask for Him to send heavenly aid?

Your Responsibility as a Debtor

While God may send aid to you in a most unexpected way, He also may choose to not do so. For the sake of your sanctification, He may allow you to endure through the long and arduous process of paying off your student debt, one month at a time, for many years.

The scriptures clearly command the repayment of debt:

Considering the average college graduate takes 21 years to pay off their student debt,1 you may be in this for the long haul. But take courage: there are countless stories of those who put their student debt to death in two or three years by making war on it (see: the Top Ramen diet).

If this is the pathway the Lord has for you, remember that it is for your sanctification, and paying off your debt is noble. This suffering will most certainly produce perseverance, character, and hope in you (Romans 5:3-5).

Your Options as an Aspiring Missionary

Many mission agencies will not help you go overseas with a large student debt balance. While this a frustrating barrier for many, this roadblock is in place for a good reason—to prevent missionaries from going overseas, who may need to return early because of their student debt burden.

Article – “Do I have the Wait to Go Overseas Until I Pay Off My Student Debt?”

Though the Bible commands for borrowers to repay their lenders, it also leaves room for your debts to be repaid by someone else (see: the gospel). There are several good pathways to invite others to share the load of your student debt, to allow you to go overseas sooner…

• The Go Fund will take over student debt payments for approved missionaries going overseas long term, to an unreached people group, through their local church (thegofund.com).
• MedSend awards four-year grants to repay the student debt of healthcare professionals working in underserved areas (medsend.org).
• Your Church: Perhaps your church (or a family member) would consider paying off a portion of your student debt, should you have a captivating vision of what you believe God is directing you to do with your life.

Waiting can be quite painful, and seemingly endless. Repayment of our debts is not optional—it is mandatory. However, perhaps there is another like-minded party who can help to repay your debt for you, and remind you of the debt your great Savior paid for you on that old rugged cross. God has unlimited resources—so ask the Lord of abundance to provide for your debt. But remember to take courage, and trust His plan, even if He tells you to “wait.”