For some people, the overarching impression day to day—despite points of genuine happiness and good in their lives—may be one of somberness and burden, even bleakness or depression. They believe there are honest reasons to be dismayed about life, about the world in general. Things persistently don’t feel right or seem to make sense.

Through much of college and into my twenties, I struggled with such persistent feelings of sadness and, at times, hopelessness. While I didn’t seriously contemplate suicide, I often didn’t see a reason for going on. I wanted out but didn’t see how.

Then one day a simple thought came: Ask God. Specifically, I felt led to read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and to take my deepest concerns to the book. Because I’d grown up in Christian Science, I was familiar with its Bible-based textbook and knew that it makes very strong claims about God’s goodness and reality as well as the healing power of spiritual Truth. So I put it to the test, determined to find answers to my unhappiness.