New jobs are always stressful, but this one was excessively so. From my office I could hear shouting between the office manager and coworkers down the hall. It was an uncomfortable situation, but with a depressed job market quitting did not seem a reasonable option. Things grew worse during my tenure there. One coworker died of a heart attack; one contemplated suicide; another tried.

Knowing such situations are best turned over to God, I began to pray about it. As I reflected on God's Word, But encourage one another daily ...(Hebrews 3:13), I felt led to start a prayer group at work. I had never started one before, but I felt God gave me the courage to begin by talking to those I knew to be Christian. Of the six I approached, five said yes. We decided to meet just before work in the employee coffee room.

We began our first session by reading the devotion and prayer for the day from the booklet, Portals of Prayer. Each day one of us would read the devotion and prayer and then pray about the situation in the office, for the spiritual well-being of our office manager and other coworkers, our families and our group.

One day Mary, the office manager, walked in and demanded to know what we were doing. I told her we were together for devotions and prayer. She said nothing to us, but as she turned and stormed angrily away we heard her mutter under her breath, "We'll see about this."

Two days later Helen, the Human Resources Director, came from our home office and called us into Mary's office. She asked what we had been doing in the coffee room two mornings previous. We told her we were meeting for devotion and prayer, that it strengthened us and helped us cope with the situation in the office. She was silent for a moment and then continued. "Let me tell you where the company stands on this." I expected she would tell us we couldn't meet on the business premises. Helen continued, "The company has no problem with you meeting before work, provided each of you is at your desk at 8:00 a.m. We also would require that all employees be invited to join you."

Our group was totally surprised by the outcome. So was our office manager.

The next day I sent a memo to all the employees in our office inviting them to join our group. There was no response, but the group continued to be a blessing to its members.

Several weeks later Helen returned with another administrator from the home office. One of my coworkers, Amanda, mentioned how close the members of our prayer group had become. The administrator responded that many of the offices were close, like "family." I was thrilled when Amanda replied "No. That's not the same. You don't understand. We pray together!" There was no response.

Another prayer partner, Samantha, requested a private meeting with Helen at her hotel. Sam told me that she'd really like me to come to the meeting with her; it would make her feel more comfortable. I agreed to go with her, but I was determined I would merely witness what was said. I would not participate. I was wrong.

As the meeting progressed, Helen directed a question to me and I found myself drawn into the discussion. I prefaced my statements, as Samantha had, that all I said should be held in strict confidence. Helen assured me it would be. I spoke of my knowledge of the frustrations in the office, respecting the privacy of individual co-workers, but passing on the overall attitude of the office towards the manager. I related incidents which I personally experienced or observed. Our supervisor, Mary, was a personable woman but she lacked supervisory skills. We agreed that management training would be a benefit. Sam and I left the meeting feeling that, at last, something was going to be done to address the problems in our office.

The next morning Mary called me into her office and asked me to close the door. She asked why I had gone to meet the Human Resources Director the night before. I was stunned. What happened to the confidentiality? She asked me to explain what I had said about her. Seeing this as an opportunity to help both myself and my coworkers, I lifted my eyes and said a quick prayer that God would help me tell the truth in love. I held nothing back. It was difficult and uncomfortable. Mary was visibly upset. Tears welled up in her eyes. But all I said was true. I left her office trusting God had been with me. I had told the truth in love. It was the best I could do.

My employee evaluation came shortly thereafter, and although I knew the Lord was in control, I dreaded the moment. I knew my meeting with Mary meant a devastating evaluation. I was wrong. The Lord showed once again that He is in control. She had given me an excellent review. She commented, "Your honesty has helped make me a better manager."

I may never know the full impact of the prayer group on my coworkers or the situation in our office, but I know that I will never be the same. I have experienced the comfort, assurance and peace one can only know by trusting God's grace at work.

Jean Hansen Kammerer is a wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoys writing, music, dance and drama and is active in nursing home and music ministry. She is a member of First Lutheran Church, Missoula, MT.