"All good for you His wisdom planned"

MARJORIE C. SELLERS

God is Love. He is also Father-Mother. His regard then for His children is one of benevolent, ceaseless kindness. God's fatherhood is manifested in the unlimited good with which He blesses His ideas. A humanly loving parent would not desire to withhold good from his children; but the parent Mind draws upon its own infinite resources. We behold God's motherhood in the tender protection with which all that He creates is perpetually surrounded.

Man's relation to God is that of a son. He is inseparable from good, the heir of perfect Love. As God's goodness is forever flowing freely, man is continuously expressing His bounty in spiritual understanding, holiness, immortality. God's goodness never ceases, and man's heritage of blessedness knows no diminution or stoppage.

As these truths are understood, they are manifested humanly in harmony, health, success, happiness, home, companionship, security. Peter, in his first epistle, speaks of "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven" for us. It can never be lost to us, because it is spiritual and indestructible.

God's gifts to His children are seen in the harmonious unfoldment of good. But very frequently mortal mind would try to blind our eyes to this continuous divine activity. Human will often outlines ways which seem attractive materially, but which are not supported by divine wisdom. How alert we should be to let only Christlike humility, purity, and spirituality be reflected in us! Many have discovered that when human will has been put aside, God's ways are found to be entirely satisfactory and desirable.

Sometimes we seem to be having such discordant experiences that we doubt our unity with God. No matter how loudly error screams, or how persistent material suggestions are, we need only to claim our sonship with our divine Parent. God's law is continuously active—though we may not always see this in the stress of difficulties—and it is certain that it is leading us aright. Mrs. Eddy says (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 70), "Each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity." Nothing can withhold us from that niche, for in Science we are already there.

Few perhaps have experienced conditions more difficult than did Joseph. When a young boy, he was hated by his brothers, who put him in a pit. He was afterwards drawn out and sold to passing merchants, to be taken into Egypt, where he was sold to Potiphar. Then, after a time, hatred and jealousy once more entered into his experience, and he was cast into prison, where he remained two years. His expression of wisdom and kindness was so manifest that it not only opened before him a way into Pharaoh's presence, but gained for him the position of "ruler over all the land of Egypt." Finally, he was able to save from starvation his own brothers, who in earlier years had dealt unkindly with him. It is clear that God was unfolding the divine plan in Joseph's experience, but many times it may have been difficult for him to understand that he was being protected by omnipresent good.

For several years a Christian Scientist had work in what was called "a depressed area." She had been very happy there, but gradually began to think that she was working in ugly surroundings, and that the longer she stayed the more difficult it would be for her to leave. She became obsessed with the desire to get a job elsewhere, but the way seemed entirely blocked.

Then one day she came upon Mrs. Eddy's words Miscellaneous Writings, p. 117): "God is the fountain of light, and He illumines one's way when one is obedient. The disobedient make their moves before God makes His, or make them too late to follow Him. Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance." This awakened her. She was comforted by the assurance that she had never been separated from God's care. Then she saw the need of realizing that her true work was not in material surroundings, but in the kingdom of heaven. Lastly, she saw that no belief of limitation could hinder her progress Godward. She became contented and worked with increasing happiness for two more years in that post. At the end of that time, though reluctant now to leave it, she was impelled to apply for another post, which she obtained, one which fulfilled so many unvoiced desires that her heart was filled with gratitude for the loving Father's unlimited kindness and tender guidance.

The understanding of God as Father-Mother and of man's indestructible unity with Him enables us to put complete reliance on His care. We can sing with joy and assurance the words (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 216):

O wait on Him with veneration,
Be silent in humility;
He leads you after His own counsel,
His will is done and still shall be;
All good for you His wisdom planned;
O trust in God and understand.

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