Article April 12, 2004 Issue

Could God really help me pay the bills?

By Susan Self

Since My First Job Out Of College , I'd prided myself on my ability to save money and to keep my debts to a minimum. I couldn't understand how people could neglect to save for emergencies. And I felt almost smug when I'd hear of acquaintances who, after prolonged spending sprees, would suddenly be facing financial hardships. "Well," I'd wonder, "where did they think the money was going to come from?"

Then, late last year, a small line of credit I'd taken out to pay for car repairs suddenly ballooned up to five figures, and my once-fat savings account had dwindled to a few dollars. I found myself in dire financial straits. If that wasn't bad enough, I calculated that the freelance work I'd lined up for the rest of the year would barely cover my mortgage payments, much less allow me to pay off my debt. I felt doomed. Suddenly, I was asking myself the question that I'd so uncharitably asked about others: "What on earth was I thinking?"

Things looked pretty bleak. But, thankfully, I saw a glimmer of hope. In the past, turning to God had saved me in situations where there seemed to be no way out. And I felt that the same approach could help me this time, too.

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