Sariah

I was reading tonight in 1 Nephi chapter 5. What I always remember about Sariah is how she doubted Lehi, her husband. Verses 2 and 3 use the phrase "complained against" Lehi. That always sounded so negative to me, like Sariah was just a whiner. But something caught my eye this time in verse 1. Upon her sons' safe return Nephi says Lehi was filled with joy, "and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us." I can only imagine how a mother might feel to not know where in the world she was and to not know what the future would hold and to believe that my 4 oldest sons had failed their mission and died. The suffering and fear that she was experiencing is probably something I can't quite fathom. I would probably have reacted the same way she did. Nephi adds in verse 7, "my mother was comforted" because of their safe arrival back to the camp in the wilderness. And now, verse 8,

"And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath ^acommanded my husband to ^bflee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could ^caccomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak."

What I believe is that because Sariah suffered the way she did and been brought to such a point of despair that caused her to murmer, when the miracle finally did come, she recognized it and knew that there was only One who could have brought her sons back to her safe and sound. Sariah needed to gain a sure knowledge that she was obeying the Lord and not just her husband, she needed a sure knowledge that the Lord would take care of them during their journey. Like Sariah I come to know and trust in the Lord more completely through the trial of my faith.