For many years I prayed off and on about a growth on the back of my shoulder, but I wasn’t seeing any progress. One day my husband noticed it and mentioned that I should have it looked at by a doctor because it didn’t look good. At that moment, I knew I had better get serious about what to do next—either seek medical help or rely on God through Christian Science. 

I continued to pray, and at times had treatment through prayer from different Christian Science practitioners, because I understood that the underlying error was fear. I knew that if I went to a doctor to take care of the growth, the fear would remain, so the real problem wouldn’t be solved. I might end up asking a doctor to take care of similar problems in the future, perhaps indefinitely.

One day while praying with ideas in that week’s Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly, I heard a clear voice say, “There is no mark on your consciousness.” I felt that this was a message straight from God. I rejoiced and waited for something to change physically. But it didn’t. I must admit, I was a little frustrated. Why hadn’t this spiritual truth brought physical healing?