Do you doubt that morning will follow night? We cannot perceive the morning in the darkness, but when the dawn comes and the daylight gradually breaks through, no amount of doubt can stop dawn from developing into the full day.

Even so, God's work is perfect, all-embracing, and our trust in His love and His mercy can be constant.

Doubt of good is an enemy of mankind. One of its chief characteristics is to originate concealed and unnoticed. Often its secret pestering is not recognized at all; and the question of why, in spite of intensive work, some project does not succeed, or one's understanding is not broadened, or some healing does not take place, is left without a satisfactory explanation. Mrs. Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science, gives us this encouraging reassurance: "Whosoever understands the power of Spirit, has no doubt of God's power,—even the might of Truth,—to heal, through divine Science, beyond all human means and methods." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 52;}

The spiritual and perfect man is without fear. Doubts come from mortal mind; they are related to fear. When any kind of obstacle seems to present itself, how important it is to check whether some doubt is still lurking in our thought. Even in the presence of Christ Jesus' eminent example, Peter doubted when he set his own foot on the water. Fear overcame him, and he called for the Master's help.

Jesus did not doubt the presence and power of Truth for a fraction of a second. His question to Peter, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" ^{Matt. 14:31;} jolts us alert. Do we have deep enough faith—a faith so firmly and deeply founded that we can destroy error on the spot by recognizing as unreal its satanic suggestions? Only an acceptance of these false suggestions would pull us down into the dark waves.

Trust in the power of Spirit builds on an unshakable faith and on the spiritual understanding of the absolute supremacy of God. Whoever lets in doubting thoughts is admitting that he still believes in a power apart from God, infinite good. Qualities such as fear, dishonesty, timidity, and all forms of uncertainty in no way belong to the true man as the image of God.

In divine Mind all is clear, certain, and unchanging. Spiritual laws rest on divine Principle and bring forth sure results. Christ Jesus once asked a sick man at the pool of Bethesda, "Wilt thou be made whole?" ^{John 5:6;} The New English Bible renders this: "Do you want to recover?" What a question, one might think! Who would not want to recover after thirty-eight agonizing years?

But are we really ready to accept without resistance the God-directed solution to the problem, whatever it may be, and to place ourselves completely under God's will, whatever the road ahead may be? Do we perhaps feel, like the man at the pool, that there is always somebody ahead of us who is closer to Truth, or that there is some error constantly blocking our path?

Do you want to be healed?

In catching sight of the Christ, Truth, the sick man at the pool of Bethesda may have suddenly recognized the falsity of his doubts, which had been fooling him for years. The light of Truth was so strong that futile deceptions faded. He stood up, healed.

Error's insinuations cannot accomplish anything without our consent. The one who hesitates to trust is also weak in true knowledge; otherwise he would not doubt but would realize clearly that he cannot evade the goal—namely, the full recognition of his spiritual being. Proceeding on this course without detours reduces the struggle.

One who asks himself, "Do you really want to be healed?" and can answer this question with an honest "yes" is ready to achieve the victory over error. We can overcome doubts about not being able to deal with the aftermath of healing. We can accept our new dominion in changed situations and drop our ignorance about true happiness and life.

Christ, Truth, not only heals the physical picture but extinguishes the false belief. Then we see the new man fulfilled in us. Mrs. Eddy, who knew the wiles of doubt, admonishes: "It is not wise to take a halting and half-way position or to expect to work equally with Spirit and matter, Truth and error. There is but one way—namely, God and His idea—which leads to spiritual being." ^{Science and Health, p. 167;}

We need to reject the inclination of the human mind to keep looking back to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thereby letting evil pass as real. Instead, we need to look only forward to the tree of life—the imperishable reality of good. Hesitation and indecision are overcome when one gets to the bottom of error and finds it to be an illusion of mortal mind. Doubt is obliterated as illusion is exchanged for the facts of being.

Whoever doubts deceives himself and may allow himself to believe he can be robbed of successful demonstration. This is as unnatural as if a bud tried to stop itself from unfolding. The spiritual fact is that no one and nothing can interrupt or stop the full effect of the divine power. Mrs. Eddy encourages us: "Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious—as Life eternally is—can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not." ^{ibid., p. 495 .}