"Our surety is in our confidence"

Evelyn F. Heywood

There can be nothing more impressive to the student of Mrs. Eddy's life than her unwavering confidence that God would establish the Cause of Christian Science and prove her great discovery true. The words of John might have been uttered, as they were lived by her, during those years when materiality strove by every means in its power to overthrow her faith and deplete her courage: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

Only an absolute trust in a power which was revealed to her as omnipotent Love and wisdom, could have inspired such steadfastness of conviction. It was because she knew that her prayers were according to the divine will that she never doubted the result of her labors or wavered in her own will to continue the battle. In considering all that she so gladly endured to establish the Science of Christianity in the hearts of men, we ourselves—inheritors of this great gift—may well remember the words of the writer to the Hebrews: "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."

Build upon human premises, how often has confidence been shattered, and skepticism, even bitter disillusionment, taken its place. On page 368 of the Christian Science textbook, Mrs. Eddy shows us the difference between the security which even the highest human sense of trustworthiness has to offer, and that which is born of sole reliance upon God. "The confidence inspired by Science lies in the fact that Truth is real and error is unreal," she writes. And she adds, "Divine Science insists that time will prove all this."

To have seen the eternal fact that, whatever the material evidence to the contrary, Truth is real and error unreal, is to have done with disillusionment and shattered hopes, is to have found the confidence in spirituality which is wrought in steadfastness. In this reliance, though it may take time to establish it, there is only one thing demanded of each one of us, and that is to prove, day by day, in the evidence of God's allness, the nothingness of evil.

To those whom Science has inspired with a confidence hitherto unknown, in the omnipresence of good as the result of what they have experienced in their own lives of its healing and regenerating power, every problem which presents itself, whether it appear small or great, is but another phase of the belief that evil is real. While the lessons may seem slow in the learning, because of the world's divided allegiances, its blind self-seeking, he who has caught the vision of true endeavor will not waver, he will preserve the beginning of his "confidence stedfast unto the end."

Into such scientific reliance on the victory of Truth over error, the arguments of possible depletion or defeat do not enter. The individual has the assurance and the proof of spiritual supremacy in his oneness with divine Principle. Our Leader won because of her complete confidence in the triumph of Truth. Many have fought on blindly and without hope, after their reliance upon good has been taken from them, but those who "are made partakers of Christ" will remain steadfastly confident of victory; they know that "Truth is real and error is unreal."

The great importance in this human experience is not that we regard material gain as the first essential in our endeavors. Such effects are subordinate to the primary demand that we prove and maintain our dominion over evil, and help others so to do; that we understand the true nature of the kingdom and know that it is within us. The call to this steadfast recognition is without partiality or prejudice; it is not circumscribed within the limits of ourselves, our immediate circle, our country. It includes all mankind.

On page 3 of "Pulpit and Press," Mrs. Eddy writes: "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love. If you maintain this position, who or what can cause you to sin or suffer? Our surety is in our confidence that we are indeed dwellers in Truth and Love, man's eternal mansion."

As we understand that we actually dwell in Mind, the sovereignty of our thoughts and actions will not be interfered with, whatever the argument of the material senses. It was this knowledge which proved the cross and the tomb powerless to stay the ascending thought of Jesus. In the measure that we steadfastly maintain it in our lives, the command will be obeyed and the promise won, as set forth in the tenth chapter of Hebrews, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

Evelyn F. Heywood

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit