Editorial March 2, 1935 Issue

Defeating Disappointment

W. Stuart Booth

Who has not tasted the bitterness of disappointment when high hopes have been dashed or pet plans have been frustrated? And who would not welcome a teaching which would enable men to defeat disappointment, take away its sting, and erase its scars? Now, Christian Science promises to do this and even more, that is, to preclude disappointment; and it fulfills the promise by practical proof. Those who have felt the healing touch of this Science know that it is the Comforter, of which Christ Jesus in his promise and prophecy, as recorded in John's Gospel, said, "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

The Master's work for himself and mankind was complete. He understood that God, good, is the all-providing and all-protecting Father of man and the universe; and he knew that divine Love's abundant provision for man includes unmarred happiness and unvarying health, adequate ability and eternal life. He also knew the falsity of human beliefs in limitation and lack of joy, freedom, dominion, health, intelligence, and life; and so he demonstrated God's good will for men by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, forgiving and freeing the sin-bound, and raising the dead. Disappointment and discouragement, like disease, discord, and death, regarded by Christ Jesus in the light of spiritual understanding, were proved by him to be negative and insubstantial, as are fleeting shadows.

Since Christ Jesus is our Way-shower, in whose way of thinking, healing, serving, and living we are to follow, it is evident that we can and must defeat disappointment and that which occasions it by the same means which were employed by him. Although the Master "was in all points tempted like as we are," and although his followers' failure to measure up to what might have been expected of them must have been deeply regretted by him, we may be certain that his trust in God kept him out of the slough of despond into which unaided men easily slip. The question, "How was this accomplished?" finds answer in the fact that Jesus consistently prayed that God's will, not human will or fleshly desires, might be expressed by, to, and through him.

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