A subtle temptation, regarding which the student of Christian Science needs to be alert, is that of becoming discouraged over seemingly delayed healings. Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 22): "Wait for your reward, and 'be not weary in well doing.' If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race." And in the next paragraph she adds, "Love means that we shall be tried and purified."

The admonition to "wait for your reward" inspires courage in the heart of the student of Christian Science, for it assures fruition and encourages us to continue in our good works without becoming wearied while waiting for the certain reward. When through faith in God we continue to look for a complete healing, never wavering, the smoke of battle must clear away, and we shall then receive according to our demonstration of the power of Mind over wrong thinking. Our final deliverance is not gained by following a smooth route, nor by depending entirely upon someone else for the working out of our problems; we ourselves must have faith and perseverance to climb over the rough bowlders and jagged rocks of mortal belief. "The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." The master Christian made his triumphant demonstration over the cruelest beliefs that error ever assumed, even to the destruction of "the last enemy"—death.

Thomas was forced to acknowledge that Jesus had overcome death. He declared that unless some definite sign were given him he would not believe in the risen Lord. Afterward Jesus lovingly rebuked him, saying, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." So we may say, Blessed are they who can face the onslaughts of evil, knowing that there the allness of God is manifested, and work on trustingly while waiting for the right to hold aloft the banner of victory. We must be "tried and purified;" and it is possible to be joyously willing to be "tried," that is, prove our sincerity and trust in God's mercy and power, knowing that the purification thus gained must result in perfect healing and harmony.

In right thinking we find freedom from fear of evil, because right thinking is the acknowledgment of the allness of God, who is good. The affirmation and acceptance of the truth of the all-presence of the one Mind, whose power is infinite, is the most complete denial of error that may be made, for this affirmation proclaims the nothingness of the entire round of evil beliefs. Mind fills all space; hence, there is no room for evil to exist, to be looked upon or feared. It is most helpful to make an effort to understand this. To deny error theoretically, and yet at the same time view it as something real, tends to accentuate the belief rather than destroy it. Mrs. Eddy states in Science and Health (p. 475), "To Truth there is no error,—all is Truth;" and on page 407 she says, "Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite. This spiritualization of thought lets in the light, and brings the divine Mind, Life not death, into your consciousness."

The Christian Scientist must keep before his thinking the perfect model, spiritual man. When it is learned that Spirit can have no opposite, an ever increasing courage to press on is gained, for it is thus made clear that nothing has power to hinder an honest desire to advance in the understanding of Truth. Every moment spent in search of more light, more influx of good, stirs thought to greater endeavor. As one error after another confronts the student, he rejoices that he has at hand the power of Truth that deals the blow to evil's attempt to be recognized as something.

The value of preparatory work must be noted. Each declaration of Truth and every acknowledgment of Mind's allness assures divine protection for each step taken. Constant prayer means constant protection.

Lack of alertness in detecting error's subtle suggestions results in the belief of becoming a victim to sickness, loss, accident, or death. One needs to claim one's right to good continuously; and even though the problem seems to one not to be yielding, the Word of God does not return void, and the healing is going on. Many blows may be necessary to complete the breaking of a large stone. Neither the first nor the last blow, nor any that comes in between, can be said to do the work alone; all are needed. So it is in working out one's problems, each declaration of Truth bears fruit, and aids in bringing out the complete healing. The realization of this will help greatly in destroying discouragement.

The affirmation of one's spiritual selfhood constantly held to will utterly destroy the bulwarks of error, built on the sands of materiality. If the student is sincere and obedient, discouragement will be found to have no power to hold him in its thrall. It may try to depress him and retard his advancement, but if he holds to what he knows to be true, error will be utterly vanquished by the understanding of the ever-presence of omnipotence. Humanity believes many things that are not and never will be true. The student has the glorious privilege of knowing the nothingness of these sense-dreams. He may know it for himself and for the world at large, the world that greatly needs the refreshment of righteous thinking. He can stand firm in his declaration of universal harmony, and in this way lighten the burden of the whole human family.

A student of Christian Science was able to hold fast to the truth of being while passing through a succession of wilderness experiences, during a period of years, in which evil in divers forms tried to tempt her into believing that it was impossible to keep on under such heavy odds; but through the aid of Christian Science there was a continuous victory.

There is nothing whatever to be gained by giving way to discouragement, and everything to be gained by holding fast to what one knows of the truth of real being. Holding steadfastly to the truth means joyous advancement, and the right to expect a happy solution to our problems; which solution may at any moment be made manifest. And during the healing process many forward steps are taken. Let us keep our courage, the courage that is sustained by our understanding of God, good, as All, as ever present and ever available.