"God is punishing me financially because of that sin I committed last year."
How it sounds in your head: You know what you did. You slept with her. You cheated on that exam. You lied on your resume. Now God's withholding blessing until you've suffered enough to balance the scales. This financial drought is your punishment.
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."
-- Colossians 2:13-14Source: Karma theology dressed as Christianity - making God a cosmic accountant tracking your sins and matching them with punishments.
The timing lines up - you sinned, then things got financially hard. Seems like obvious cause and effect. Plus, preachers talk about sowing and reaping.
A criminal dying for his crimes asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus didn't say 'suffer first to pay for your sins' - He said 'TODAY you'll be with me in paradise.' Instant forgiveness with zero punishment.
I REFUSE the lie that God punishes me financially for sin. IT IS WRITTEN that He forgave ALL my trespasses and nailed the record of debt to the cross. There is NO CONDEMNATION for those in Christ. IT IS WRITTEN that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from ALL sin. Under the BARAK blessing, Abraham lied TWICE and left richer both times. God defended Abraham the LIAR because of covenant. My provision flows from Christ's finished work, not my perfect performance. I am forgiven, righteous, and blessed NOW.
Your Father isn't withholding from you because of last year's failure. He was running toward the prodigal who blew everything on prostitutes - full restoration with zero punishment.