Testing times: Opportunities for progress and grace

Who doesn’t prefer days when things cruise along smoothly to days when disruptions such as arguments, flare-ups, and heavy demands vie for our attention? But I’ve come to realize that it’s the challenging days that can lead to spiritual growth if we decide to face those difficult times with grace. 

The Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, makes it clear that we need to continually grow spiritually if we would practice the loving laws of God, and progress in our lives. I’ve had some wonderful demonstrations of divine power, including protection during car accidents, a healing of broken bones, and recovery from a severe illness. Each healing required me to deepen my understanding of God’s presence in my life, and this led to strong spiritual growth and a new understanding of God. But recently I’ve come to see that the demand on us is to keep growing spiritually, and responding gracefully to even minor daily trials is an important step in that direction. 

Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, explains in its textbook that we are saved from mortality, or the problems and limitations of the belief of life in matter, by finding a deeper understanding of our relation to God, who created and cherishes us. This salvation comes through Christ, the holy presence and true idea of divine Truth, Life, and Love. The book doesn’t say that we are to find life and comfort in matter. It points out that our salvation is in Spirit, God, and that to find and work this out we must practice the divine laws of spiritual healing every day. It says, “Universal salvation rests on progression and probation, and is unattainable without them” (p. 291).