A few years ago, I found it painful to bend my fingers, making it difficult to do daily tasks. It occurred to me that I wasn’t getting any younger, so less flexibility might be the new normal. But on the heels of this suggestion came the question, “Who says this is inevitable?” This thought awakened me to consider more deeply what’s inevitable from the only authoritative perspective—God’s. 

I’ve learned in my study of Christian Science that trying situations shouldn’t be taken as a sign that we’re undeserving or outside of God’s care. God never uses suffering or pain to correct or teach. Healing is one way we see evidence of God’s ever-presence and all-power, as Christ Jesus demonstrated. When asked about God’s kingdom, Jesus replied that it “is within you” (Luke 17:21). We experience this heavenly kingdom in our lives through the recognition of God’s continual presence. God gives us spiritual sense, which corrects distorted physical sense perception; our role is to yield our thought to God. 

I asked for treatment from a Christian Science practitioner (someone who is devoted full-time to praying for the healing of others). Following the treatment, I could move my fingers easily and painlessly, so I thanked and dismissed the practitioner.