For many years I was a prisoner of fear. My parents were loving and supportive, but because I felt my fears were irrational and wondered if I might be mentally ill, I mostly kept them to myself. But I did confide in Christian Science practitioners along the way. 

Having been raised in Christian Science, I had been taught that God is Love and that He is our divine Parent and tender Shepherd. During this time, I would often pray with my favorite promise from the Bible: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, New Living Translation). With this reassuring Bible verse and the prayers of the practitioners I reached out to at various times, I had the strength to move forward. 

My journey to healing through prayer was rewarding, even though it felt arduous. I instinctively knew that addressing this challenge was an opportunity to love God more and grow into greater confidence in His presence and power. I was familiar with this passage in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life” (Mary Baker Eddy, p. 462).