Article July 16, 1955 Issue

"IT IS WELL"

J. BUROUGHS STOKES

The remarkable faith and courage of the Shunammite woman which enabled her to declare, "It is well," as she faced the death of her small son, has inspired untold thousands for centuries. We are told in II Kings that instead of accepting the material evidence she hastened to Elisha for help. We read (4:25, 26): "And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well."

The Shunammite woman's answer revealed to Elisha that she had glimpsed the truth of his teachings, and had gained spiritual faith in the power of God. Accordingly, it was not only Elisha's spiritual understanding of divine Life, but also her enlightened faith which brought about the healing of her son.

Today, through the revelation of Christian Science, we can say with spiritual faith and understanding, "It is well," despite the material sense of things. Mary Baker Eddy, speaking of true faith, says (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 487, 488): "This faith relies upon an understood Principle. This Principle makes whole the diseased, and brings out the enduring and harmonious phases of things." Only when we base faith on the understanding of the truth of being can we show our faith by our works and demonstrate our God-given dominion and freedom.

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