Editorial May 5, 1928 Issue

Courage and Strength

Duncan Sinclair

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," says the Psalmist; and in Isaiah it is written, "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." In this manner did the seers of the Hebrew race bring to the notice of their fellow-men the fact that courage and stength go together, and that the source of all strength is God. It is wonderful to think that in these far-off times there were men whose spiritual sense was so developed that they could discern these truths; and not only discern them, but actually expect them to be demonstrated. As Isaiah writes, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Strength is an asset which all men desire, strength of body and mind to do their duty, to carry on the work which lies to their hand and perhaps supplies their daily needs, to serve mankind. Many a prayer has gone up to the Father beseeching Him to break the spell of weakness and to give the strength which is so necessary in the battle of life. But not always do the prayers seem to be answered; for not always does the feebleness give place to strength. And why is this? The reason must surely be that the right approach has not been made to God, because of ignorance of His nature and of His true relationship to man.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 417) Mrs. Eddy writes: "Never tell the sick that they have more courage than strength. Tell them rather, that their strength is in proportion to their courage." Obviously, then, courage must be gained if strength is to be secured. And how can this be brought about? The answer is, Through the understanding of real spiritual being which Christian Science imparts, and the application of that understanding to the difficulty. Christian Science gives the assurance that God is infinite as Mind, as Spirit, as good. Since God is infinite Spirit, spiritual substance can alone be real; hence so-called matter must be an erroneous concept of real substance. Similarly, since God is infinite good, evil can have no real existence. Let these truths be realized, even feebly, and fear begins to leave one and courage to take its place; for there cannot possibly be aught to fear in a universe which is spiritually perfect and whose creator is infinitely good.

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