Testimony of Healing October 4, 1900 Issue

"Joy Cometh in the Morning."

J. L. L.

My trouble was inherited dyspepsia, and to mortal sense, a stubborn case. Many physicians in many places were tried, each saying that there was no permanent help for me, but that he could make me more comfortable. With each new remedy I would take fresh courage only to be disappointed again and again. Thus years rolled by, having me a feeble, emaciated, despondent, and hopeless woman. How often I cried, "Is there no help me' How long must I endure this agony?" Life was indeed a burden. I was tired of the struggle, but knew not how to escape its misery. Like Job, I longed to be where "the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest." When the supposed efficacy of material remedies was exhausted I heard of Christian Science. I had no knowledge of its methods. I only asked if it were spiritualism or mesmerism. I was told it was neither, but its followers claimed that God did the healing.

In a little village in New York State, lived an old friend, who in former days was a Methodist, but through the healing of her daughter, had become a Christian Science practitioner. I went to her; she gave me a few thoughts that carried me away from self.

Through many years of giving thought to what I should eat, believing that food kept me alive, and at the same time eating caused me untold agony, I was now nearly starved. I asked if I could eat. She said, "You can; but hold no fear about it." So, like a worn-out, helpness child, trusting in its mother, I turned to this new, strange way that promised to make me well. I placed myself under this friend's care, who told me I was God's child." Through the treatment I began to improve, but fear of the old pain returning retarded my healing. In a few weeks I left her, going to my home in a far Southern state, taking with me Science and Health and other works of our Leader, which I faithfully read, and was slowly but surely gaining in health and understanding, when one visited me, who claimed she was a Christian Scientist, but proved to be a spiritualist. Her visit undid all the healing I had received, but my faith in Christian Science remained. Being young in the way, I failed to discriminate and guard against the wrong thought. I struggled alone until a loyal Scientist came to my aid. Weeks went by, error constantly tried to be heard, but she faithfully voiced the Truth and I was helped. Thus one year passed, when it was my privilege to go North and take class instruction from one of the Mother's loyal students, and through his patient, faithful teaching "the beauty of holiness" was made clear to me. I was convinced I would have to bring out my own case. Again I returned to my far-away home, determined that nothing should separate me from Truth. One day the terrifying sense of pain returned with great force. I was hundreds of miles from any Scientist or relative—alone with God. To sense, I nearly passed away. The words, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil," came to me, and I would repeat, "No; I will not fear. Why? Because Thou—Truth—art with me." This conflict went on five days, when, scarcely able to raise my head, I managed alone, to get up. Then a sense of weakness and hunger came. Several years before, mortal mind had decreed that I could eat no fruit without intense suffering. I sent out for some, took my Bible, it opened to Luke 10:17: "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name." Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." I did not remember seeing those words before, but the thought came, "That promise is for me, and now is the time to test it." So I ate freely of the fruit, believing that Truth was giving me power to overcome the enemy. And it did, for then and there spiritual understanding set me free, I saw that God was a very present help in time of trouble. Thus ended my fifteen months warfare with that particular error, and during nine years since it has not troubled me. Truly, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." When through the realization of God's allness and ever-presence, we are able to overcome physical ills, surely we must partake somewhat of the same joy that came to the seventy.