Michelle couldn't sleep. She turned to her other side and continued worrying. This won't do, she thought. I just can't go on this way! She remembered the events of the day. Oh, how she wished she could forget them! How ugly she had been that day!

Scott had come home tired and discouraged. She had looked at him sharply. Her head was splitting and she suspected the worst. "Still no work?" she had asked.

"No," he answered wearily. "Since the plant went out of business, it's been rough on a lot of people around here. The employment agency sent me to three places; but two of the jobs had already been filled. The third job just wasn't the sort of job for me."

"This isn't exactly the time to be fussy," she snapped.

"Listen, Michelle, don't you think I'm just as anxious to find work as you are for me to find it?" Scott asked, slumping into a kitchen chair. "But I'm not going to take just anything."

"The bills are piling up," Michelle reminded him. "Jared needs new clothes; he's outgrown all his old ones. And Crystal needs braces on her teeth. That will really cost money. And if we don't meet the house and car payments...."

"I know--I know!"

"Maybe I ought to go out and try to get a job," Michelle suggested.

"Our three children need you at home just now," Scott protested. "Besides, you'll be having the baby in four months. No, we've got to trust the Lord to help me get a job."

"Huh, if the Lord were going to help you, wouldn't He have done it by now?"

"Michelle, you surprise me. Where's your faith?" Scott stared at her.

"I guess it's pretty low right now," she admitted.

"I had some doubts myself while coming home," Scott said, "but I've just got to believe that the Lord won't let us down. Maybe He's trying to teach us something."

"Whatever the lesson," Michelle exclaimed, "I hope we learn it soon!"

The next day Michelle ran into Suzanne Jones downtown. Suzanne was on her lunch break. As usual, she greeted her with a cheerful smile. "How do you do it, Suzanne? You always act as if you haven't a worry in the world. I know your life isn't easy."

"It's the Lord," Suzanne smiled. "He's my Secret."

"There's more to it than just those few words," Michelle exclaimed. "I'm a Christian, too, but my worries get me down!"

"Drop over tonight and I'll tell you more about it," Suzanne suggested. "I have to get back to work now."

"OK, I'll be over," agreed Michelle.

As she made her way home, she thought about Suzanne. If anyone had a right to worry and complain, it was surely that young woman! Two years ago Suzanne had lost the husband she had adored and had been left with two small children to support. The insurance had been barely enough to pay for Dan's funeral. Suzanne had given up her lovely home, moved into a small apartment and taken an office job. Her salary was minimal. Yet she was uncomplaining and cheerful. And somehow she even had enough to contribute to the church.

That evening when Michelle went to Susan's, her friend got out her Bible. "In here," she said, "is my secret."

"But you said the Lord is your secret."

"He is!" exclaimed Suzanne. "It's my complete trust in Him that gives me joy and keeps me from worrying. It's my realization that He is always with me in everything. And it's my wholehearted belief in His Word and promises! When I lost Dan two years ago, my whole world went to pieces--or so I thought," Suzanne continued. "Dan had provided for me and the children, and I hadn't much to worry about when he was alive. But then when he went to be with the Lord, well, I was on my own--and with very little money. It hit me hard. What was I to do with the children if I had to go to work, which I certainly had to do! I had no experience in the business world. My parents were dead, and Gary's parents live in California."

"I know it's been rough for you," Michelle sympathized. "What did you do?"

"Well, I was desperate with worry. I did the only thing I could do. I prayed."

"I've prayed, too," said Michelle, "but I'm still worrying all the time."

"I also looked in my Bible," Suzanne replied. "I thought maybe God's Word would have help for me, and sure enough it did. The Lord led me to Philippians 4:6 and 7. Look," she said, pointing in her Bible. "Read what it says."

Michelle read, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

"That's my secret!" said Suzanne. "I just grabbed hold of that Scripture and let it grab hold of me. I did everything it said. I threw everything on the Lord. I told Him all my problems and thanked Him for His care and answers to prayer in the past. His peace came over me. And ever since I learned this great truth, worry has been a thing of the past."

"But what about your problems?" asked Michelle. "Surely you had to work them out somehow."

"I did, but with the Lord's help," answered Suzanne. "He opened doors for me. He provided good care for my children. He has helped me in every situation and met all my needs, as I've trusted in Him. Why do I need to worry when I have such a loving Heavenly Father to take care of me?"

"You have a point there," Michelle admitted sheepishly. "I guess it never really came home to me before."

"I'm afraid a lot of Christians never get this blessing of trusting the Lord completely in everything, either because things go quite smoothly for them or because they don't trust the Lord enough when the going gets rough. In a way, I feel sorry for them, because they're missing out on a wonderful blessing!"

"You know, I think you're right," Michelle said slowly. "Maybe the trouble we've been going through lately has been permitted by the Lord so we could have that blessing too. Would you pray with me as I bring all my problems to the Lord in this way?"

"Of course, I will," Suzanne exclaimed warmly, kneeling by the couch. Michelle knelt beside her. And as she poured out her prayer, a strange new peace came upon her. As she arose, she knew that she would sleep well tonight. Her problems were in the hands of almighty God--and who could work them out better?