Article September 26, 1908 Issue

TIMIDITY OVERCOME

R. J. TODD

In Exodus we read that when God commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask him to let the children of Israel go, He said, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say;" and in the prophecy of Isaiah we read, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together: and a little child shall lead them." These texts from the Scriptures were a great help to me, a few months ago, in bringing out a demonstration over fear and timidity. I had spent all the morning in my study, struggling with a sense of depression which seemed almost unberable. I knew it was an unreal condition; that God, good, alone is real, that in Him is light, and no darkness. I was trying to realize this blessed truth. when the door-bell rang, and presently I was summoned to the parlor to meet a gentleman who wished to see me. On entering the room I found myself standing before a noted evangelist, an educated Scotchman, whom I knew to be holding services here. After introducing himself, the gentleman said, "I have come to talk with you concerning your religious belief."

My use of language is inadequate to express all that rushed thorough my consciousness at that moment. It seemed as if a mountain had risen up before me, leaving me mentally dark, almost physically weak, yet here must I talk to an educated man, one whom I knew to be well versed in the Scriptures as well as the ancient languages. Consciousness of my own lack of education, and that, like Moses, I was not eloquent, but "slow of speech," forced me to look away from the mortal self to God for help. However, I put on the bravest front I could, and kept looking to the divine source of infinite supply for help, and the first ray of light came from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy,—"Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (p. 494).

I knew what my need was, and like a rushing wind came the Scripture texts already quoted. I then began to feel composed and more equal to the occasion. After answering some very pointed questions on the mountain-top of holiness, I began to feel quite comfortable and at home; in fact, I felt a sense of joy springing up within me for the privilege of speaking for Christian Science with one who was not only an educated man, but a gentleman and a Christian, one who was ready to listen for and to hear a higher call. As soon as the way opened I got our text-book and some of the other works of our revered Leader, and soon my visitor was either reading or listening while I read from such subjects as the tenets, the Lord's Prayer, the chapter on "Atonement," "Creation," etc., etc. At this stage we were both so interested and so happy that when my visitor looked at his watch he was surprised to find he had remained past his dinner hour. On leaving, he said, "No one need say that what you have got is of the devil; it is of God, and I want another talk with you."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

TIMIDITY OVERCOME

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access