Editorial April 21, 1928 Issue

Leaning on God

Ella W. Hoag

"To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings." Thus writes Mrs. Eddy in the opening sentence of the Preface to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. vii). Truly, few sentences could be more pregnant with holy, happy meaning or more comforting in their great assurance to mankind. The very thought of leaning brings with it a sense of absolute dependence on some support outside of one's self. And when this act is coupled with the "sustaining infinite," surely there is nothing left to be desired in the way of protection and care.

The unspiritualized human consciousness understands little of what it means to lean on God. While it may often be given to depending on outside props, these props are as material as the desire which seeks them; sometimes it even imagines that the sustaining power is vested in itself, and it fancies that it contains within itself all the power it needs. Experience, however, brings to mortals frequently recurring evidence that the supports which originate in human belief are perpetually giving way under any unexpected stress. Such mistaken reliance ever proves itself to be unstable when there is most need for something that can be depended upon.

Prophets and apostles knew what it meant to lean on God, and in the degree that they understood this divine support they not only found themselves sustained and inspired in their holy work, but found that in proportion to the perfectness of this reliance they were enabled to perform mighty deeds. Daniel declared, "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." These servants of God all knew that to lean on God meant so to trust His omnipotence that their faith in Him enabled them to glorify Him in many a wonderful way.

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