Waiting Patiently on God

ANNA RUNK ADAMS

THROUGHOUT past centuries, patient and loving followers of Truth have accounted it a privilege to serve God amid whatever trials and persecutions have seemed to come to them, earnestly seeking divine guidance, willingly paying what might be required of them for the sake of good, and sometimes forfeiting even what seemed to be life itself for the cause of righteousness. Through the teachings of such generous and patient workers, multitudes have advanced from the bondage of pagan idolatry, overstepped the threshold of ritualistic worship, turned from the false beliefs of so-called science, theology, and medicine, and gained a stronger faith in God.

We need not be reminded that these diligent seekers after Truth devoted their lives to the development of a practical religion. Did they patiently sit by, waiting for God to bring something to them? They did not. They served God according to their highest sense of right, and worked for the good of humanity.

Following many endeavors by these earnest religious leaders came Mary Baker Eddy, who, through her revelation and her spiritual living, was able to give to the world a religion destined to elucidate and perpetuate the works and teachings of Christ Jesus. Our Leader labored unselfishly in giving to her followers her divinely inspired works, thus placing Christianity on a demonstrable basis.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 254) Mrs. Eddy writes, "When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path." Careful study of this reference reveals the true meaning which our Leader intended us to gain from the words "wait patiently on God." Throughout her writings, there can be noted the selection of appropriate words as well as the exactness of expression. It is needless to say that when she said to wait on God she meant just that, rather than, as some may have the tendency to believe, that we should wait, and let God do the rest. Now, when we see the true meaning of these words, we find that we are not to sit by, enduring our burdens until God sees fit to remove them, but we are to realize our at-one-ment with Him, serving Him patiently, untiringly, confidently, until we know that man has no other consciousness, no other intelligence, but the divine.

It would seem very easy to wait for God to remove our difficulties, but Christian Scientists have learned that they must be willing to do their part. They must watch, work, and pray; and their erroneous thoughts must be overturned, "until he come whose right it is."

What a blessed privilege it is to serve or wait on God! Every Christian Scientist has this constant opportunity. Divine Love is the source of his supply and the foundation upon which he must build. He is supplied with infinite resources upon which to draw to enlighten and strengthen him in doing the work which divine Love has planned. The Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings give him a spiritual background for all of his pursuits; the Manual of The Mother Church, by our beloved Leader, guides his footsteps; our periodicals comfort and sustain him, and our church services provide for him a feast of love. Lovingly following these guides, one has no time for evil thinking and idle talking. There must be no wasted, misused moments.

There are many ways in which the obedient Christian Scientist may protect and nourish the thoughts he receives from these resources. These ways are not found by looking contentedly on while others do our work, but by ourselves serving good and entering earnestly into any required activity.

It is a great privilege for one to be a member of one of the many branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, found throughout the world. Here one has the right to utilize his talents instead of wrapping them "in a napkin" or hiding his light "under a bushel." Here one can let his light so shine that others may be guided to this wonderful truth. The church member who gives in to apathy must awaken from his mortal dream of inactive, false contentment and see that he must be up and doing if he would retain the talents which are already his.

Each blessed promise found int the Bible points out the way for us to gain these blessings. Each blessing must be earned. We must pay for it. We are not told to stand by and look on while the work is done for us, but we are told what we must do in return for these blessings.

Isaiah writes, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." In order to have anything to renew we must first have used what we had on hand. Before our strength can be renewed we have to demonstrate the truth of omnipotence. Similarly, our thoughts progress, grow, and are renewed as we utilize the supply available. We must keep thought active. Our Leader says (Science and Health, p. 240), "Mind is perpetual motion."

When we learn to recognize the necessity of being alert and active, we understand Mrs. Eddy's words (ibid., p. 323): "Beholding the infinite tasks of truth, we pause,—wait on God. Then we push onward, until boundless thought walks enraptured, and conception unconfined is winged to reach the divine glory."

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