Article July 17, 2006 Issue

THE HEALING POWER OF GRACE

Healing in my life had followed the feelings of warmth and love that embraced me when I gave myself up completely to God. It was grace.

BY TIMOTHY MACDONALD

Grace isn't something God is giving to His children; it is the already-present reality of God being God. Grace is a reality that we feel in our lives whenever we let go of the tempting thought that we exist apart from God with abilities, powers, goals, and responsibilities of our own.

In her June 1898 Communion message to The Mother Church titled Christian Science versus Pantheism, Mary Baker Eddy explained that the healing work of Christian Scientists "is accomplished by the grace of God,—the effect of God understood" (p.10). When I first read that line, I began to understand how healing in my life had followed the feelings of warmth and love that embraced me when I gave myself up completely to God. It was grace.

Overcoming of the mortal fear that often accompanies relinquishing personal control over everything has been a long journey for me. And while I still have work to do to complete the journey, I am very grateful for the steps already taken.