Editorial March 8, 1919 Issue

Trust in God

Annie M. Knott

It may be asked how often the American people think reverently upon the motto inscribed on their coinage, "In God we trust." Whatever it may mean to those who use the money on which these words appear, the fact remains that they set forth a most vital factor in the history of the nation; for nothing less than trust in the power whose throne rests upon righteousness could have on many occasions saved the nation from disaster. To the Christian Scientist this does not mean trust in an unknown God who is far from us in times of emergency and distress, but in divine Principle,—who is the source and support of all that is true and right. On page 171 of Miscellany we find these impressive words from the revered Leader of the Christian Science movement: "Trust in Truth, and have no other trusts."

Professing Christians would, of course, all agree that we should trust in God, but too often this admission is stripped of its value by material considerations. The psalmist says, "Trust in him at all times," this being followed by the assurance, "God is a refuge for us." The Christian Scientist usually proves the absolute reliability of this assurance first in the healing of sickness, and afterwards in every phase of human experience which tests his faith in God, in divine Truth and Love. During the last four years many brave men of the allied nations have learned on the battle fields how vital and sustaining a thing it is to trust God at all times and under all circumstances; and no less have those who remained at home been forced to learn anew and in a most vital way what it means to trust in God for their dear ones, for the imperiled nations of earth, indeed for the salvation of all mankind in its larger and truer sense. In thinking upon these experiences, we may well recall those of David, who lived in troublous times, and yet who helped to advance a nation in the understanding of God and the progress and prosperity consequent upon this understanding. In the twenty-second chapter of II Samuel we read: "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; ... in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour."

Although we rejoice greatly in the fact that much has already been accomplished for the emancipation of humanity from the tyranny of mad ambition, which is blind to righteousness and mercy, the fact remains that even greater problems lie before us. These call for nothing less than the complete establishment of God's kingdom on earth, and because so much has already been accomplished, not through mortal wisdom and not by force of arms, but by the divine power made manifest to those who trust in Truth, we can never, surely, lose heart even for a moment or doubt that far greater things will be accomplished by a larger and purer sense of trust in God. If, like Peter on the stormy Sea of Galilee, we lose sight of the Christ presence and the power which healed the sick and fed the hungry multitudes, we may lose heart and cry out in accents of fear, but for us to-day, no less than to the terrified apostle, the Master's words apply, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

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