The Bible tells the inspiring story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (see Daniel 3), three Hebrew captives who so clearly understood the supreme power and goodness of God that they refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol. Despite the king’s threats, they stood firm in their faith, and were thrown into a blazing furnace as punishment. But the fire had no effect on their bodies. To the king’s astonishment, they came out of the flames unsinged, without even the smell of smoke on them. 

Recently this story was very helpful to me when I needed healing. One Saturday evening after I had done a great deal of gardening in our church yard, one of my hands was tingling and painful. I was to be one of the two Readers of the Bible Lesson-Sermon (from the Christian Science Quarterly) for our church service the next day, and I was concerned that the condition of my hand would make it difficult to stay focused. 

I prayed for the humility to understand more clearly the God our Christian Science Society serves, as I knew this would relieve the fear and bring healing. I also reasoned that I could not be harmed by doing good. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy assures us: “Constant toil, deprivations, exposures, and all untoward conditions, if without sin, can be experienced without suffering. Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself” (p. 385).