Article September 10, 1904 Issue

Trust in God

M. B.

Experience proves that self-reliance and self-distrust are the double-faced lie of belief which ever defrauds us. When I saw our Leader at Communion time my sense of her utter self-abnegation was clearer than ever before, and I thought, It is in absolute reliance upon God, in the daily, hourly walk with Him, that she has been able to do this work for humanity; and there is like work for every one of us to do. Her word to us last year, "Trust in God, and have no other trusts," and her added word this year, "Trust in God and 'He will direct thy paths' " (Dedication of the Church in Concord), these are the epitome of her teaching. Who of us unaided is equal to the demonstrations which in our individual experiences have proved the ever-presence of divine Love? It is by no desert of ours, not through human understanding, but by the grace of God, that these things have come to pass in our lives. And the greater things than these,—the work for all humanity,—will be shown to us when we finally learn to lean, not upon our own understanding, but to trust in God with all our hearts.

"Fear not" is the first word of the angel who announces the coming of spiritual life to human consciousness. Soon after I had heard of Christian Science there came the first experience which proved the providence of God, and showed me that fear is overcome by trust in Him. The steps in the demonstration are of great interest to me now, though at the time I did not see their significance.

I did not then understand Christian Science clearly, but in a time of great fear and confusion of thought over the first financial problems I had ever been called upon to solve, I turned to its wondrous promises, and was enabled to commit my cause to God. I did not know what step to take, where to turn, and there was no one ready to advise or guide me. The answer to my prayer dawned in a sense of peace. It was as if some strong friend had said to me that if to earn money was a duty, nothing could hinder me from doing it. If I were honestly willing that my lines should be laid in any places where duty should lead, there must be a place for me, a work for me to do. Then it came over me, with an indescribable sense of relief that all the world's fear and worry over money matters is nothing but a fear of starvation and death! To look that thing squarely in the face took away all sense of confusion and trouble.

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