Healed of back pain
At first, since it happened only periodically, I didn’t give it much thought. But eventually, the discomfort began to occur more frequently, making walking difficult and bending over almost impossible.
I prayed to see myself as God’s image and likeness. The first chapter of Genesis states that all God made was very good, and I knew I was included in that goodness. “The scientific statement of being” from the Christian Science textbook (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 468) reminded me of my perfect, immutable status as God’s, Spirit’s, reflection—not material, but spiritual and complete.
For several months the problem persisted, still periodically, but also more aggressively.
I knew I needed to dig deeper and be more consistent in my prayers. Mrs. Eddy writes, “Man is incapable of sin, sickness, and death” (Science and Health, p. 475). One definition of incapability is “not in a state to receive” (Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828). This was very significant, as I could see more clearly that in my true, spiritual state I couldn’t possibly experience pain. The belief that I was material was what needed to be expunged from my thinking.
As I held to these truths I would be free of the pain, and many times I felt that I was healed, only to have the problem return a week or so later.
One day the discomfort was particularly difficult. I was attempting to tie my shoes, but was unable to bend over to do this simple task. Up until that time I had not mentioned to my husband that I was having a problem. Now, I had to ask him to tie my shoes, which he lovingly did. More than ever, I felt discouraged and helpless.
A few days later, I found myself in the same situation. This time, instead of asking my husband for help, I decided that I had allowed myself to be pushed around long enough by a mistaken belief that prevented me from functioning normally. The thought came, “Thus far and no farther!”
I realized that my real and only helper was God, and that He was right at hand. I decided to sit and listen for God to tell me just what I needed to know, even if I had to sit there all day. Actually, it took only a few minutes. The message was, “You are aligned with Spirit.” I could clearly see that I could be neither misaligned with nor dis-aligned from God, but was always perfectly aligned with Spirit, just as our image is perfectly aligned with the original when we look in the mirror. I also realized that the pain was completely gone. I bent down, tied my shoes, and jumped up with complete freedom and great joy! That was over ten years ago, and the healing has been permanent.
I learned through this experience how important it is to keep thought aligned with God, Spirit, and not be taken in by what the body is portraying or dictating. Words cannot express my gratitude for this healing and for the understanding that our Father-Mother God is an ever-present help who meets every human need.
Dorothy Bey
Town and Country, Missouri, US
