Article July 30, 1979 Issue

Don't let downfalls get you down

BEATRICE W. REINERTSON

I had renewed my commitment to God. I resolved to adhere wholly to the understanding I had gained through my study of Christian Science. I saw clearly that I was God's spiritual child. I knew I never needed to doubt that a sincerely prayed-for healing would come. Impatience with my fellowman and the dread of some future experience would become impossible as my trust in God increased. So peace filled my heart as I went about my daily business.

But here I was, a short time later, with fear, discouragement, rebellion, envy, and impatience welling up in me. It had happened again! My good intentions seemed suddenly swept away. The unlovely qualities I had endeavored to discard earlier were building up again. Paul's words rang in my heart: "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."^{Rom. 7:19;}

These downfalls, so familiar to many of us, are not necessary. We do not need to become victims of mortal mind's claim that our most sincere and humble desires to express God are futile. Practicing our knowledge of Christian Science and living spiritual qualities innate to each one of God's children cannot end in frustration and failure. Mortal mind, the mist that "went up ... from the earth,"^{Gen. 2:6;} has no power to darken our vision, dull our ears, becloud our thoughts, or reduce us to becoming helpless puppets for error's play.