Misery seems like a really strong word to me. We say we’re miserable a lot for what seems like small things. Not being able to get comfortable or being very hungry or in pain. But there are things that deserve the word.
Misery is defined as a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body.
There is a Stephen King book and movie with the name Misery, and indeed the main character goes through miserable circumstances.
In this life there are things that make us miserable. The death of a loved one. Illness. People we love making choices that are against God. Our own choices that result in consequences we didn’t see coming.
But last Sunday at worship, our preacher told the story of an old woman living in a nursing home stuck in a wheelchair who had a tablet as her only source with which to communicate. One day she typed on the tablet,
“Suffering is inevitable, but misery is optional.”
I think this is so true but not easy. We cannot let the circumstances of this life make us lose our joy that we find in Christ. It’s hard not to do this in the moment of hard things, but we have to pray, press on, and let God work in our hearts and lives if for no other reason than for others to see in Whom we believe and have faith.
May God have mercy on us all and hold us up in His light and beauty!
