The relationship God gives us

Early last year, I started to have a skin condition that caused me much itching and irritation. As I had always resorted to prayer in Christian Science and obtained good results, I began to pray by turning my thoughts to God.

I’ve learned that my being, as well as everybody else’s, is spiritual. God is Spirit; therefore, everything God created is spiritual and is as perfect and harmonious as He is. However, I still asked myself how it was possible for me to have that skin condition.

In the Bible, I found Christ Jesus’ promise: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 ). This made me realize that the belief that one is at the same time spiritual and material confuses us and prevents us from being free. But when we begin to understand that divine Spirit, good, is our creator, we start to know ourselves better as children of God.

One day, I was led to look more carefully into the definition of Mind in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. It begins by saying, “The only I, or Us; the only Spirit … of whom man is the full and perfect expression; …” (p. 591 ).

Suddenly I realized that Us is capitalized, the same as I. This struck me so much that I read that passage again and again. I continued praying, and it was like when I log on to the Internet and start clicking on the screen—soon images on the topic I’m researching begin displaying on the screen. The ideas about the meaning of that quote began unfolding in thought, through that wonderful communication we all have with God.

I began to realize that in spiritual creation we are not separate. It is not that I am here and so-and-so is there, but this “Us” is happening right now, because we live in God and are in God. We are all connected in that “Us.” In this unity that God gives us, disease or conflict among people, communities, countries, are not possible.

Despite these realizations, the skin condition did not improve. I was so concerned that I began to purify the water at my home and to check how much dirt there was everywhere—in public transportation, ATMs, streets, etc. I also thought about the lack of security, not only here in Cuernavaca, Mexico, but in other parts of the world. People often talk about this topic and it troubled me a great deal. I felt concerned about the future.

But as I realized that we are all actually spiritual and that we are also spiritually related to each other through God, divine Mind, as the Apostle Paul says, “In him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28 ), my thinking began to change.

The truth is that we are not and never have been separated from God. “Us” does not dwell in a person but in Spirit, in God. He gives us life. And this isn’t something static; divine Life is constantly expressing itself. We are the reflection of Life, God, so we are constantly expressing perfect Life. This spiritual view simply transformed my thinking.

God has already put in our hearts the solution for every problem that might come to us.

In the Bible we read, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 ). This made me think that our relationship to God has nothing to do with challenging environments or relationships. In this identity that God has given us there is nothing that can harm us. All the situations that disturb us or make us feel insecure, whether in families, countries, or communities, do not come from God and are no part of His creation, and we already have the ability to bring a solution to them.

Christ Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 ). We don’t have to look outside or far away but within ourselves. God has already provided us with all the answers we need.

Close to my home there is an office for the prevention of drug trafficking and addiction where there had been some clashes. So I began applying this new insight whenever I prayed for my neighborhood and my own safety, and we have felt pretty safe. However, at one point I received a phone call from someone representing himself as a policeman and asking me how I was. I noticed some malice in his words. When I told him that I was fine, he said that I shouldn’t be so calm because some people were going to come to take me away and kill me.

At that moment, I felt compassion for him and myself, and an incredible sense of peace. I knew this feeling was coming from a promise Christ Jesus made to his followers and that I had been cherishing in my heart: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 ). I hung up feeling the blessing of understanding that we are all included in that “Us”—not only me but also that man, my home, and my neighborhood. I haven’t received any other calls like that one.

In a few months, the skin condition disappeared and I was completely free. The ideas that came to me during that time also helped me in my relationship with neighbors and relatives. I used to become very distressed whenever there were disagreements, and people would say it was normal that many different personalities react that way. Now I know that the relationships that God gives are always harmonious because they are in Him, the only Mind.

I learned a wonderful lesson: God has already put in our hearts the solution for every problem that might come to us. No matter how much we look for a solution outside ourselves, the solution is always within, in that relationship God has given us.