Problems Considered as Challenges
Every problem denotes a challenge. To the student of Christian Science the challenge is always to our present understanding of this Science and demands that our understanding be enlarged to compass the solution. "Resist not evil,"1 said Jesus. Let us grasp the tenor of this admonition. Surely he did not mean that we should submit to evil. What then?
In the Lord's Prayer we read, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."2 From this, can we not conclude that we are to resist the temptation to believe that evil is real or God-sent? We need to resist the belief that understanding can be limited; refuse to believe that any condition is too hard for God to heal; reject the temptation to believe the difficulty inevitable. Jesus proved evil unreal. He is our Way-shower.
To the limited senses there is always a problem, because material sense accepts limitations. When spiritual sense gains ground in our consciousness, a problem becomes a challenge. Our first step then is to resist and reject the seeming reality of sense testimony. Spiritual sense does the rejecting because it is based on Spirit, God, good. Then spiritual understanding takes over and brings basic ideas to light, which work to nullify sense testimony. Christ Jesus said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."3
Confronted with sickness, medical theory may say that the cure is beyond the present understanding of medicine or surgery. But Christian Science shows sickness to be a false belief. Let us ask ourselves, Is any false belief beyond God's power of correction? If the belief persists, is this not rather because it is beyond our present understanding of God? Our answer, and ours alone, will show where we stand in our relation to God, to Christ, and to our true identity. This, then, is the scope of the opportunity.
Error would have us fasten our gaze on the problem. Seeking a material solution is an effect of animal magnetism—the belief in the reality of matter. Truth demands a larger spiritual vision and points to itself as the liberator. Truth calls for rejection of everything unlike itself.
When we view problems as challenges to prove the Science of being, we have taken a giant step in the conquest of fear. We are saying, in effect: The answer existed before the problem and is present to be demonstrated now. Our need is for more understanding, and this understanding eliminates the difficulty. A good starting point would be Mrs. Eddy's words, "If Mind was first chronologically, is first potentially, and must be first eternally, then give to Mind the glory, honor, dominion, and power everlastingly due its holy name."4
Let us ask ourselves: Have we permitted mortal mind to grow in our daily contacts, allowed its presence in our daily affairs, permitted its divisive nature to influence us? Jacob became aware of mortal mind's evil influence, and it took a mighty struggle to establish his unity with God. His success in doing this healed his strained relationship with Esau. (See Gen., Chaps. 32—33.) We then need to ask ourselves another question: Are we prepared for what may appear to be a mighty struggle?
The honest and dedicated heart faces every challenge squarely. A realization and acknowledgment of our blessings tends to increase them and is part of the answer in any situation. Prayerful work considered as a blessing forms another giant step in solving a problem. Work denotes activity, and when it is done to glorify God, who dares to doubt its efficacy? Being about our Father's business enables us to recognize and demonstrate the original harmony. In the Bible we read, "The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."5
The challenge Christian Science presses upon us is to be Christlike—to emulate the works of Jesus. The truths of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, when spiritually understood, compass every situation and point to the solution. The work is ours, the strength to do it and the glory it shows forth are God's. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."6
Mortal beliefs alone are terminal. Every quality of God is eternal, demonstrable, and reflected by man. Let us ever keep in thought this assurance from our Leader, Mrs. Eddy: "Every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger."7
