One night a few years ago, I woke up unable to breathe. Immediately I became fully alert and declared mentally, “Matter cannot take away my life, for God is my life.” This rejection of matter, and affirmation of my oneness with divine Life, squelched any fear. I knew I couldn’t die. I also knew that God was present and that I could trust the delivering and protecting power of Christ, Truth.

I turned on my bed light and opened the book Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896 by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. My eyes landed on these words: “The healing power is Truth and Love, and these do not fail in the greatest emergencies” (p. 5). 

It was apparent that God was speaking to me through these words. They were a great boon to my thought, and gave me a clear and deep sense of confidence in Truth and Love as the healing power. The effect of this reassurance was immediate; it brought me enough release from the symptoms that I could begin to breathe, and continue to give myself a Christian Science treatment.

As I prayed, my breathing became more normal. When I felt my work had been sufficiently done, and all danger had passed, I was tempted to go back to sleep. However, not all the symptoms had left, and quickly I was deeply stirred to stay awake and continue praying until the healing was complete. 

A warning from one of Christ Jesus’ parables filled my thought: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:20). These words startled me, but I realized that for me they weren’t a warning of death but an alert to stay awake and keep praying—that my “soul,” or spiritual sense, was still required. This clear intuition showed me that divine Love was present and protecting me, and in obedience to this call from God, I got out of bed, put on warm clothes and shoes, and went out the front door. I walked up and down the street praying, and trusting that I would soon be completely healed.  

During this time I declared the effectiveness of Christian Science treatment—specifically, that Christian Science heals quickly and wholly. I affirmed that nothing could hinder the effectiveness of my prayer, and that no ignorant or malicious “bland denial of Truth” (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 31) could harm my being. 

The effect of these prayers was like watching a fog lift. As I consciously affirmed my spiritual and complete nature, I could feel the remaining tightness disappearing. Within 20 minutes my breathing was completely normal, and a few hours later there was no remaining evidence of the condition. I was healed quickly, permanently, and wholly, and the trouble has never recurred.

This healing illustrated for me the life-preserving power of Christian Science. It continues to stand out to me as evidence that divine Love meets all our needs, and does not fail even in the greatest emergencies.

Carl Sheasley 
Roxbury, Massachusetts, US