Article January 16, 1937 Issue

True Effort Never Fails

ANNA FRANDSEN LOOMIS

The earnest student of Christian Science may often find himself tempted to believe that his efforts are in vain, and that he cannot grasp the spiritual meaning of what he reads. Perhaps he even tells others that his diligent daily reading of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly or of an article from our authorized publications has left no impress on his memory. So he concludes that his study has little or no influence on his words or acts. This chain of beliefs is apt to include doubt in the availability of ever-present intelligence, and the discouraging suggestion that honest motives are in vain, with the result that there is a letdown in his efforts. An honest student may at times condemn himself, and conclude that there is no reward for serious, attentive study; but these are aggressive errors, untrue and unreal.

The Old Testament contains many assurances of reward to those who diligently seek God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus clearly states, "Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." And again he says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Do not these words assure us that every effort to become better acquainted with God is rewarded?

The sincere desire to follow in the footsteps of His beloved Son leads to the goal which Jesus promised "to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Every Lesson-Sermon studied, every hour of devout consecration to the law of God, is a fertile seed planted in the soil of human consciousness. If nourished with joyful and expectant faith in God, this seed will sprout and bear fruit. Nor must the student lack faith in his own sincere and honest effort to draw closer to God. The unity between Father and son is possible of realization now, because of the eternal relationship between the creator and His creation. God expresses His perfection through man, His offspring, and man knows himself as a righteous child of God. When one understands that true selfhood is the expression of God, he will reap and enjoy, here and now, the blessings this recognition brings. Do not human beings need patience as well as confidence in the working out of the promises of a just and faithful God?

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