How many of us at some time have asked the question "Why me?" and then added these justifications: "I lead a good life. I help other people. I pray to God each night. I study the Bible Lesson ^{In the Christian Science Quarterly .} each day. I go to church on Sunday. So, God, why me?"

I asked the question of a Christian Science practitioner while I was carrying my first child. I had been able to eat very little for several months and had lost a lot of weight. Great concern was being expressed about the baby and about my ability to have the child. It was a particularly desperate morning when the practitioner came to visit me, and I will never forget his answer to my plaint: "Why me? I've been through Sunday School, I go to church, I obey God." He threw back his head and laughed. I didn't appreciate the joke. But then he said, "Why, blessings in the wilderness."

My eyes were opened. Instead of being sorry for myself, feeling rejected, dejected, and resentful, I should have been looking for those blessings in the wilderness that the children of Israel had found so many years ago.

In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, we find this definition of "children of Israel": "The representatives of Soul, not corporeal sense; the offspring of Spirit, who, having wrestled with error, sin, and sense, are governed by divine Science; some of the ideas of God beheld as men, casting out error and healing the sick; Christ's offspring." ^{Science and Health, p. 583.}

Being in reality the representative of Soul, I needed to be looking at the challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate this and glorify God. Joy, which hadn't been apparent in my life, replaced desperation. It didn't matter anymore what the material situation indicated. I had seen my purpose. I had the wonderful job of letting myself be governed by God, of casting out the mistaken view of man by using the truths of divine Science. I no longer asked "Why me?" I knew why, and I rejoiced.

I thought about David and his experiences. He had to overcome "the paw of the lion" and "the paw of the bear." But he trusted God and proved that God's love saves.

When Goliath challenged the armies of Israel, David seized the opportunity to prove the omnipotence of God. He could not use the weapons that people expected him to use, explaining, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them." He rose to the challenge with faith, armed with the sling of Truth. His reason for going to meet Goliath wasn't human pride but "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." ^{I Sam. 17:39, 46.}

Now my understanding and faith in God had been challenged by a Goliath, and I, like David, had to rely on Truth to slay it. I had God's staff and God's rod to lean upon. David went with certainty and humility to meet the challenge, not asking "Why me?" but eager to prove God's power.

Joseph too could have asked, "Why me?" many times during his troubled life. He was conspired against by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, put into prison—with jealousy, hatred, and pride all playing a part against him. He accepted the challenges with humility, assurance, and patience, living up to his highest standard as slave, prisoner, and ruler. Thus he fulfilled God's purpose for him.

Christ Jesus had many, many challenges, which he met with spiritual understanding, knowing his oneness with his Father. When facing betrayal and crucifixion, he prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." The account continues, "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." ^{Luke 22:42, 43.} The Master didn't ask, "Why me?" He knew that he had to meet these challenges in order to glorify God and to show mankind the way. Earlier he had prayed, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." ^{John 17:1.}

More recently the challenges that faced the Founder and Leader of Christian Science were met by her with understanding and total trust in God. In Unity of Good Mrs. Eddy replies to the question "Do you believe in God?" in these words (p. 48): "I believe more in Him than do most Christians, for I have no faith in any other thing or being. He sustains my individuality. Nay, more—He is my individuality and my Life. Because He lives, I live."

In all these cases an underlying trust in omnipotent, omnipresent God is evident. Whatever the situation we are in, we have a purpose: to let God's presence be seen through the experience. I hadn't realized just how much I had to grow in understanding when I asked that question "Why me?" In my case, when the purpose was seen, the sickness ceased. Then I was blessed with a beautiful, perfect daughter. I was glad that I had asked the question, because by so doing I learned to trust God.

We can remember that wherever we are and whatever we have to do, our purpose is to glorify God and to fulfill His will. What blessings then come as we travel through the "wilderness," which is defined in Science and Health as "... the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence." ^{Science and Health, p. 597.}

The next time the question "Why me?" forms in thought, remember that you are being presented with a wonderful opportunity to prove God's love for mankind. Each challenge can make you stronger and certainly will allow your understanding to grow. Face the difficulty with joy as "Christ's offspring." Join Christ Jesus in his prayer to God: "O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." ^{John 17:5.}