Testimony of Healing November 7, 1983 Issue

I hope this testimony will bless someone who...

ANNA MAE BURD with contributions from MARGARET BURD POWELL

I hope this testimony will bless someone who might feel discouraged when healing seems to come slowly. I have learned that such a time can be turned into one of continued spiritual growth.

During the summer of 1972 I began to experience soreness in the joints of my body. Soon the suffering became unbearable and my movements restricted, so I asked a Christian Science practitioner to pray for me. Fear that I would become completely disabled often kept me from thinking clearly, so I was very grateful for this dear practitioner who lovingly and faithfully prayed for me daily for several weeks. During this time, as the fear and suffering lessened, I began to feel the need to study and pray for myself, and I was encouraged to do this by the practitioner. She, in turn, continued to write to me. Her letters often directed me to just the verse from the Bible or the statement from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy that I needed.

Among the many healing truths that comforted and strengthened me were these verses from the Bible: "In him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28); and, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). This passage from Science and Health was also a great help (p. 393): "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man."