Article July 29, 1939 Issue

"Patience must have her perfect work"

EMMA MARY WOOD

Before becoming acquainted with Christian Science, the writer was much helped by an anthem frequently sung in the church of which she was a member, containing the words adapted from the thirty-seventh Psalm, "O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and He shall give thee thy heart's desires." After she had begun the study of Christian Science these words kept coming persistently to her thought through the years, but they were put aside as savoring too much of the orthodox teaching that good is yet to come, in some uncertain future. But when she learned their true spiritual meaning, she saw that they were in harmony with the words of St. Paul, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation," for all good is here now, and one does not have to wait for it.

This student had been struggling for years with periodic attacks of indigestion. She was always helped by applying the truth as taught in Christian Science, but was not healed, and the attacks became more frequent and more severe. One night during a very difficult time she prayed to the Father to show her the right way. The answer to her prayer came in the words from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 454), "Patience must 'have her perfect work.'"

The first chapter of James had been memorized by this student when she was a child attending Sunday school. In this chapter are the words: "The trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." It was seen that much was expected, even to be "perfect and entire, wanting nothing." She decided to start right there and watch her thinking, and to let nothing but the truth go out or enter in. It was a busy day for her, and when any thought of error presented itself, it was immediately replaced with the truth. It was also a joyous day, and in the evening some study was given to this message.

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