HAVE YOU EVER felt trapped by circumstances that are out of your hands? It would appear our security and peace of mind are vulnerable to others' decisions, or to the political, economic, or social climate. It can be frustrating to feel there is simply nothing we can do—or that we can maybe cope, but cannot overcome.

In times like these, I've found comfort in turning to the infinite wisdom of Jesus, the master Christian. Jesus made it very clear that as an individual alone, without God, he was powerless to do anything. But on the other hand, he showed that an understanding of God enables us to overcome even the toughest obstacles. He exhorted his followers not to focus on their circumstances, telling them, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Luke 12:31).

Freedom and happiness—and even solutions to issues that seem out of our hands—can be found when we acknowledge the presence of God's goodness already inherent in our lives. Certainly this can be difficult, as it may often appear that things like our health and wealth are dependent on factors largely out of our control. And yet, Jesus' example showed that God's divine government extends to include dominion over physical, social, character, and even financial issues. Spiritual abundance is always available in our experience, waiting to be accepted and lived, and we can turn to God's presence for solutions, even when it seems that there are no human footsteps we can take.

One year, during a time of severe financial difficulties, I saw firsthand this divine presence governing my life, and saw how financial abundance was revealed to my family in a practical, reliable way. We were living abroad, and because I didn't have legal permission to work in the country, we were living on one small and heavily taxed salary.

I had been praying about the situation and was increasingly feeling closer to God. Ideas were coming to me—small ones—that allowed us to meet our daily needs in creative ways. For example, I discovered an unprecedented love for cooking that seemed to have been waiting for me to discover. Though I'd never enjoyed the thought of cooking before, this new passion enabled us to save money on food. Also, during the harsh, cold months of winter, we were able to gather firewood from dead or unstable trees in our back forest in order to augment our home's heating and avoid prohibitive heating bills.

Ideas such as these came to light day by day, as I learned to cultivate a quiet, fearless listening to God, the source of all good. However, one day I realized I would not be able to afford a plane ticket to attend my association meeting (an annual gathering for students of Christian Science). I had not missed a meeting in 15 years, and it was the most spiritually helpful event of the year for me. Meetings were a wonderful time to learn more about Christian Science healing and practice, and they blessed my own life and that of my family, and nourished my desire and ability to bless the interests of the whole world. Needless to say, I felt devastated at the thought of not being able to attend.

My negative prognosis stopped abruptly, though, as I realized that the power of God is behind every unselfish idea. I knew that it was right to be able to attend my association, and furthermore that I couldn't be deprived or punished for living in a foreign country and supporting my family. I saw the association meeting as a perfect example of the kind of activity Mary Baker Eddy wrote about in Science and Health: "What ever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power" (p. 192). I knew intuitively that the cultivation and unfoldment of spiritual understanding, supported by Christian Science class instruction, helped everyone discover the inherent good Jesus hoped for us to find when he said, "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21).

I resolved to stand squarely on this concept, shutting out frustration and trusting that God, as Truth, always provides inspiration in the form of abundance right where the need is. All I had to do was acknowledge it, accept it, and live it. I saw that abundance is a permanent result of Truth, not a conditional proposition of matter.

I also saw that there can be only one Truth. In the Bible we read, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" (James 3:11). We will get nowhere holding two opposite ideas to be true. That would be as foolish as trying to use two opposing facts for your defense in a court of law. Courtroom victories where justice is served against the prevailing beliefs of the masses are among my favorite stories. In 1840, John Quincy Adams won the Amistad case on a simple matter of moral law. Can you imagine him standing in the courtroom, brilliantly stating the truth of this law, and then turning around and saying, "On the other hand . . ." and giving an opposite position? Adams knew the premise he spoke from was correct, and he had an unfailing confidence in his ability to stand on principle.

We can be just as clear in seeing and acknowledging the government of one Truth alone. We can be confident that there is only one Truth worthy of our honor, and not be tempted to "see double."

I now had a clear idea that God's truth was a fact of my being right there and then, and had always been governing my experience. So I went down to the travel agency and placed a reservation for an airplane ticket that had to be paid for in 24 hours. I didn't know where the money would come from, but I knew that the right idea—the kingdom of God within—was asserting itself. My job was just to be a witness to the truth and then leave it to God, divine Truth, to be what He naturally is.

When I returned home, the light on my answering machine was blinking. I pushed the button and listened to the best message that machine had ever conveyed: A friend of mine in my home country, unaware of my situation, had called to ask if I would like to use some of her transferable airmiles. She had so many that she didn't know what to do with them all and was offering them to friends before they expired. I was overjoyed. I went to my association meeting and left feeling spiritually refreshed and rejuvenated.

Christ Jesus left us a mighty example of how to think and live with confidence. He showed us that our relation to God is the only reality—the only story—and that we can acknowledge and live this goodness. The benefits for us and the entire world are unfathomable. He taught we had the means to accomplish great good right here, right where our life rests at this moment. We don't have to wait for some disaster or challenge or test of our intrinsic goodness; we just need willingness to accept the good God has already given us. What a comfort!

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