Article June 27, 1908 Issue

LIMITATION OVERCOME

LEWIS R. STOY.

There are many at the present day who are saying, as did Job, "The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me," but few realize that the trouble came because of fear; in other words, lack of trust in God. Many seem to lose confidence, not only in their own ability to accomplish anything, but in their power to impress their capability on others. All this is the result of our losing sight of the allness of God, and thinking that we can of ourselves do something. Having separated ourselves, in belief, from God, we are unable to wield the true power or to cope with the thoughts that oppose us. We come to believe that we have not only made a failure of life, but that God, also, has made one through us. This is however, the decision of mortal mind and not of divine Mind, for God says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: . . . for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee." He will not only help our neighbor, but He will help us, if we put our dependence on Him.

God can do all things, for He is all-power, all-presence, all-intelligence to every one of His ideas, and is willing to help all. He has made man in His own image and likeness, and has given him dominion. As God is divine Principle, He must have an equal and impartial interest in every one, and bestow on all alike the same loving-kindness, guidance, and protection. God is "not far from every one of us," and the promise of divine Love is, "I will guide thee with mine eye." "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way." The universality and impartiality of Love is shown in the case of the manna, when the command was, "Gather of it every man." But it is necessary that we seek "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;" then, instead of limiting God or ourselves in belief, we must accept the many beautiful invitations given us in God's Word.

Leaving home after having experienced the fear that I had made a failure of life, it required a fuller understanding of Christian Science to show me that this seeming failure was only forcing me to seek a higher realization of the truth. I was striving against the thought that I had reached an age where it is considered difficult to begin life again, and this belief was ever present as a factor in my mental battle against discouragement, as from day to day I sought to find an opening in a strange city. This discouraging thought held me down with a sense of self-limitation, in which my years of business training and experience were accounted of little value. This fear was so continually and persistently present, that when I entered a business house and talked with men, with some of whom I had formerly been connected in business, I could not conceal my fear of being unable to fill the requirements of the place. Without realizing it, I had separated myself from God, and yet I was trying to work as He would have me.

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