Testimony of Healing March 10, 1906 Issue

In November, 1899, when I first heard of Christian Science...

Grace E. Allen

In November, 1899, when I first heard of Christian Science, I was, according to materia medica, without hope of ever being free from suffering. My physician had told me that he had tried everything he knew and there was no medicine that could reach my case. I did not need to be told this, as I recognized that instead of improving in health other diseases were developing. I could hardly enumerate the complications manifest at this time. For months I could not have lived if I had not felt the assurance that God would hear my prayer and deliver me from the bondage which I knew was not of Him. From my earliest remembrance I longed and sought for the truth. Through all the years of suffering and disappointment I prayed for light, ever questioning why it was that those who professed to love God were not obeying Christ's command to "heal the sick" as well as to "preach the gospel." At an early age I united with an orthodox church, hoping that I might find an answer to my prayers, that I might find the truth as taught by Jesus; but I did not find it there, yet from this time, although all material means of so-called help were physically, mentally, and spiritually failing me, these two promises were ever with me, and were indeed as the light shining in darkness; "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out;" and, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

When every other hope had failed, Science and Health was most unexpectedly brought to me. From the moment I opened that wondrous book I knew my prayers were answered, — that I had at last found the truth; and my Bible was illumined with the light of Spirit. One of the first thoughts which came to me was, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat." From that moment I was healed of acute indigestion and have never since taken any thought as to what I should eat, whereas for three years before this I had been under a strict diet, and even then suffered continually. Chronic constipation was also healed during the first reading of Science and Health and has never returned. I at once had treatment of a practitioner and immediately received help, so that I have never since been confined to a sick-bed for a day. For a number of years I had been in bondage to so-called consumption, and for months before coming to Christian Science I had not known rest day or night, nearly every breath being accompanied by a cough. My voice, too, was failing me, so that at times I was unable to make myself heard, and when my voice was the strongest I could read but very few words aloud without being exhausted. Now I can read for hours at a time, and with a sense of strength. There was also another trouble that according to materia medica required an operation, which I was told I never would have the strength to undergo; this trouble was among the first to yield to Truth. In addition to all this, my nerves were a wreck, my physician said. I would say to those whose healing may be slow, that this accumulation of discord did not all yield at once. The way has seemed rugged, and the most bitter opposition has been manifested; yet Truth has always been the victor, — Love the only power; and now all the struggles are to me only as a bad dream from which I have awakened to health and usefulness. I might say in a few words that whereas before knowing of this healing truth I was unable to do much for myself or any one else, now every moment is full of work to be done, and there is always sufficient strength to do it.

For the physical healing I am indeed grateful, and yet that is as nothing compared to the spiritual light and strength which I have received. We know it is only as we gain an understanding of Spirit and obedient to divine Love, — so clearly revealed in Christian Science, — that we can love and help our neighbor as ourselves. It is only by our faithfulness over a few things that we can prove our deep, unspeakable gratitude to our beloved Leader, who has so faithfully and clearly shown us the way out of darkness and bondage into the marvelous light and liberty of the children of God, infinite good.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

I was for more than two years a sufferer from nervous...