The story of the Shunammite woman recorded in the fourth chapter of II Kings is significant and inspiring. That brave mother, unexpectedly confronted with her small son's death, laid the boy in an upper chamber, "shut the door upon him," and "went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel." Elisha, seeing her at a distance, told Gehazi, his servant, to run to meet her and inquire if all was well with her, with her husband, and with the child. Her reply was direct and emphatic: "It is well."

Reaching Elisha, she fell at his feet, and he perceived that her soul was "vexed within her." But this agitation did not keep her from bearing faithful witness to the perfection of being or deprive her of the reward of such faithfulness. The prophet went to her home and "prayed unto the Lord," and her son was healed.

It is comforting to know that the anguish which sometimes seems to accompany one's earnest declarations of truth cannot deprive one of the tender Father-Mother's ever-presence, care, and guidance or prevent his joyous demonstration that no discordant circumstance or condition is beyond the control of the ever-operative law of God.

Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you." One obstacle that stands between an individual and his demonstration of health and harmony is lack of absolute faith in God's presence and power. If, like the Shunammite woman, one will maintain in the face of false material evidence to the contrary the truth that God is All and therefore all must be well, he will eliminate from his thought and experience any belief of an evil power or presence. However severe or apparently hopeless the physical or mental condition, however long one has been deceived by it, the discord must dissolve and the reign of heavenly harmony inevitably be revealed.

Ask yourself, "Is it well with me?" Since the real man is made in God's image and likeness, as His perfect idea your only answer to this question can be: "Yes! It is well with me. I am free, whole, pure, happy, active, loving, kind, useful, and prosperous, because God made me that way. I am His witness; I exist to manifest His attributes, and I live by divine authority. God is my creator, and I am here and now all that my Father-Mother God knows me to be."

Is it well with one's home? Man's home is heaven, the kingdom of God, the dwelling place of Love, the structure of Truth, inviolate and indestructible. This heavenly habitation abides with him and is where he is now and always. Home is a peaceful sanctuary, a citadel of happiness, an abode of gentleness, grace, sincerity, consideration, cooperation, rest, and refreshment. Its light, warmth, and comfort bespeak the tender care and abundant provision of the divine father-motherhood of God. As one's concept of home becomes more spiritual, more in accord with the divine facts concerning the kingdom of God, his material home will express an increasing measure of the heavenly attributes, such as peace, security, comfort, and affluence.

Is it well with one's business? The only business there is or can be is God's business, for He is the source of all intelligence, action, and fruition. Man's business consists exclusively in the active expression of divine ideas, in unfaltering obedience to divine statutes. Whatever the nature of one's daily activities as housewife, clerk, carpenter, artist, business executive, lawyer, statesman, and so on, the one essential for success is a demonstrable understanding of the ever-present Christ, the divine manifestation of God.

Jesus, our Way-shower, did not speak of his own business, but of that of his Father. So let us realize that the only true business is our Father's business and lay aside the burdensome sense of personal responsibility, fear of failure, and anxious striving for material gain. We have nothing to fear so long as we are working for and with our heavenly Father. Whilst we think and talk about a finite and limited concept of business which we label "my" business, our affairs will be subject to human so-called laws involving chance and change, boom and depression; but God's business is infinitely stable, progressive, and successful. As we learn to make His business our business—as we earnestly strive to reflect Him in thought, word, and deed in our business relationships—we shall never fail, and our daily activities will yield an abundance of everything necessary.

Is it well with the Church? The divinely scientific definition of "Church" recorded by Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," reveals the Church of Christ, universal and triumphant, founded upon the rock of Truth, a present reality. This definition reads in part (p. 583): "Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."

This one universal, ever-present Church is perfectly ordered, harmoniously active, and ceaselessly accomplishing God's purpose. Mortal concepts of church as over-organized or underorganized, lacking spiritual or financial support; as out-of-date or as having outlived the divine purpose, are false and perverted. None can stray from the true Church, none can discard it, harm it, dim its effulgence, or hinder its triumphant establishment in the consciousness of mankind. Its present purpose and value to the human race are indicated in the second part of Mrs. Eddy's definition, which immediately follows the one already quoted: "The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."

Church organizations in which apathy, rivalry, pride of place, adulation of individuals, petty differences between members or groups of members, inequality of class, sex, or race find expression, reflect the unenlightened thinking—the false concept of church—of the members. Real consciousness, or true knowledge, is of God. As the true concept of Church is entertained and retained, loved and cherished, so-called church problems will dissolve and disappear. Speaking of his Church, Christ Jesus said (Matt. 16:18), "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Yes! All is well with the Church.

Is it well with the world? Still following the example of the Shunammite, we can truly and successfully declare, despite conflicting sense testimony, "It is well." "The kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations" (Ps. 22:28). And He is governing. His government is just and impartial, and each child of God is the object of His tender, constant care. There is no veil of misconception to hide the heavenly kingdom, wherein mutual trust and brotherly love characterize the thoughts and actions of every individual. There is no iron curtain of misunderstanding dividing the nations, because "the divine understanding reigns, is all, and there is no other consciousness" (Science and Health, p. 536). In the one and only infinite divine consciousness there are no conflicting ideologies, no misrepresentation, mistrust, greed, false ambition, aggression, ignorance, or fear, and these ungodly phases of human experience will cease to influence men and nations as mankind, individually and collectively, recognizes, loves, and obeys the divine government. In God's universe, the only universe—our universe—there is no dissatisfaction, hunger, want, homelessness, sorrow, disease, disaster, or separation; no class hatred, no inequality, because "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

Is it right for mankind to claim these transcendent, liberating facts of spiritual individuality, of home, business, church, and universe as immediately applicable, in the face of material evidence to the contrary? Yes. To attain improvement and healing in human experience we must forsake our false concepts, based on ignorance, and maintain the eternal divine facts.

The constant Shunammite declared, "It is well," and reaped the reward of her truthful affirmation. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 392 of the textbook, "Your decisions will master you, whichever direction they take." We must reap the reward or suffer the sentence of our own decisions. Happily we can at any moment enlighten our understanding, spiritualize our convictions, and reverse wrong decisions. The Christian Science Hymnal assures us (No.350):