Article December 14, 1935 Issue

Confidence

OLIVER BOWLES

Beginners in Christian Science, and some indeed who have been students for a longer period, are sometimes beset with doubts and fears as to their ability to make the necessary demonstration when the occasion arises. They acknowledge the truth of Christian Science, recognize its unanswerable logic, and believe that "with God all things are possible." But nevertheless they are occasionally disturbed by a sense of inability to prove or demonstrate that which they have accepted as the truth. They, in fact, lack spiritual confidence, and confidence is a condition or state of mind which each must gain if he is to advance in understanding and attain the full fruitage of his study of Christian Science. The writer of Hebrews recognized the need for confidence when he said, "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" and again, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

What is the reason for lack of confidence? May it not be due in some instances to a mere academic acceptance of the Principle of Christian Science, a condition of mind which our Leader designates on page 23 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as "the helplessness of a blind faith"? True confidence is born of spiritual understanding; it is not built on a foundation of mortal belief. It comes from a deeprooted conviction of God's allness, His omnipotence and omnipresence. A clear recognition of the spiritual nature of creation and of the unreality of all things material and temporal is essential to the cultivation of confidence. Mrs. Eddy has made this clear on page 368 of Science and Health, where she states, "The confidence inspired by Science lies in the fact that Truth is real and error is unreal."

Again, lack of confidence may be due to a sense of personal responsibility. It must be recognized, of course, that upon each one falls the responsibility of thinking rightly, in order to work out his own salvation, for thus he establishes his unity with the infinite power of God, which is ever at hand. But fear and doubt encompass one if he fails to recognize that omnipotent power is ever available, and that it must be earnestly and honestly sought. An absolute trust in God and His availability will deliver him from the nightmare of false personal responsibility. John, the beloved disciple, possessed this true reliance on God, for he said in his first epistle, "This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Angels Bring Release