God meets all our needs

As a widow in Africa I have been faced with many problems, none more daunting than feeding, clothing, and educating two children after my husband passed on, leaving me with no financial support. Fortunately, I have come to know a new way of life through my study of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. The person who gave me the book said that when I read it I should allow the ideas to pass through my mind daily, and this was marvelous. I said to myself, “I will experiment with these new ideas and let the world become my laboratory.” I knew of no Christian Scientists in the region of Cameroon where I live, and knew nothing about Christian Science practitioners. But I had my new Science and Health and my Bible to show me the way. Soon I realized they were all I needed.

I first studied the Lord’s Prayer and its spiritual interpretation on pages 16 and 17 of Science and Health. The line I used most often when faced with situations of lack was, “Give us this day our daily bread,” interpreted by Mrs. Eddy, “Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections.” I was also comforted by that strong last line: “For God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.”

I learned many other statements by heart, and they helped me find solutions to the problems I faced every day. When I discovered, after four years, that there was a Christian Science branch church in Yaounde, which was almost 300 kilometers from my home, I gave up my teaching job and moved closer to that city. I joined the local church and also became a member of The Mother Church (in Boston).

I attended my first Christian Science lecture in Yaounde and learned something about money. Before the lecture date came up, our church levied a modest sum for every church member. I felt a bit like that poor widow who gave her last coins as a church offering (see Mark 12:41–44 ). But I did it willingly because of the love I had for my new church and the spiritual benefits promised our whole community by holding this lecture. In my own little way, I had always nursed the desire for everyone to know about this God-based way of life and enjoy it. At the same time, I also wanted to contribute toward the financing of a Christian Science Youth Summit, which I did happily.

During our lecture, I learned that God is the supplier of all good, and what we call money is just pieces of paper or metal. Our real “money,” source of supply or income, is God. We should always bear this in mind as we meet daily challenges of all sorts.

My next challenge was to raise money to take Christian Science Primary class instruction in Nigeria. Although funds were low, and at first I overlooked the additional costs for airport taxes and a state-required vaccination certificate, I sent in my class application, confident that God, in His “infinite, all-power,” would meet all my needs.

I studied the weekly Bible Lessons in the Christian Science Quarterly for inspiration, and prayed several times a day. I knew, along with the prophet Jeremiah, that “the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope” (Lamentations 3:22–24, Good News Translation).

I was also enormously helped by this passage from Mrs. Eddy’s Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896: “Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment” (p. 307 ).

And soon financial help came in the form of a gift of money from my father, who is also a member of The Mother Church.

When our two-week class began, I was further helped by the readiness of another student to share her room with me, which made the whole trip manageable for me. She and I were both richly blessed, and returned to our homes eager to share the fruits of our studies. In fact, the lessons I learned in class later strengthened my ability to help my eldest daughter raise money to study abroad, and she is also growing spiritually every day. We are so grateful!

Grace Njuakom
Bamenda, Cameroon