Article September 1, 2003 Issue

Out of misery into God's open arms

By Sarah C. Nelson

I CAME HOME from work that night, feet dragging, heart heavy, with all the symptoms of a cold. As I started to prepare dinner, I could hear myself muttering over and over, "I am so miserable."

Suddenly, I stopped the monologue. Those words had started to sound ridiculous. "Why am I saying I'm miserable?" I asked myself. After all, I have a job, a roof over my head. I've certainly seen worse times.

I couldn't think of any valid reason to feel miserable, so why was I saying I was? It was time to sit down, be quiet, and listen for what God had to say—in other words, to pray and think for myself.