Mrs. Eddy counseled her followers to "rejoice in tribulation." She said. " 'Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;' therefore rejoice in tribulation, and welcome these spiritual signs of the new birth under the law and gospel of Christ. Truth." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 18:} Rejoicing in tribulation is something quite contrary to the world's ways.

However, Christian Science teaches us to depart from many of the world's ways. It shows that material situations have no more reality than the dreams we have at night. The latter seem very real, but upon awakening, we find they never were true. Thus whatever material problem presents itself, we can start solving it by rejoicing in the fact that though it seems to human consciousness very real, in divine consciousness, which is God's likeness, it has no reality. Armed with this joyous conviction, we can face our problems not only to work them out but to gain a higher understanding of God's allness and matter's nothingness.

To be unhappy because one has a problem to solve shows that one is believing the picture in the material senses to be real. This state of consciousness interferes with healing. It prevents success in solving the problem. Mrs. Eddy tells us in the textbook, Science and Health: "Admit the existence of matter, and you admit that mortality (and therefore disease) has a foundation in fact. Deny the existence of matter, and you can destroy the belief in material conditions." ^{Science and Health, p. 368:} Christian Scientists deny the existence of matter by rejoicing in the allness of Spirit, or God. Thus they can overcome erroneous material conditions.

Christian Scientists who face their problems with joy and enthusiasm because they know and trust the operation of divine Principle can solve their problems more easily than those who believe in the reality of matter. Those who know not God as divine Principle or doubt divine ability are likely to be depressed when facing problems.

It is important for one to face his problems with joy. If he truly expects a problem to be solved, lie cannot help but rejoice at the prospect. This joyous expectancy wipes out fear of the outcome in the calm conviction that Principle always operates to correct every discordant condition.

If, on the other hand, one does not recognize the ability of Principle to wipe out discord, his fear of the situation acts as a stumbling block. His depression and irritation make the error real to his false sense, and this prolongs the very situation from which he desires to escape.

"As he thinketh in his heart, so is he," ^{Prov. 23:7:} we read of a man in Proverbs. If one is sure that matter is real and that he is the injured victim of material circumstances, this is what he experiences. But if one is convinced of the allness of God and the nothingness of matter, this is proved true in his experience by the solving of problems. The realization of this fact causes one to rejoice even when facing some tribulation.

A Christian Scientist proved this when she became seriously ill just as she was preparing to move her home. "This is a terrible time to be sick," she kept mentally protesting. But a Christian Science practitioner was helping her. And as she endeavored to overcome her resentment toward the problem, the angel thought came, "This is a wonderful time to have a healing!" The joyous recognition, encouraged by the practitioner's prayerful work, that the problem could be worked out lifted her thought above resentment. It helped her to realize that the facts she had learned through study and prayer were scientifically true and applicable to the situation. Because she was thinking in her heart the truth of God and man, the healing came.

We can always welcome each opportunity to overcome error's claims. Our actions might be summed up in the words of one of Mrs. Eddy's poems.

Solving one's problems as they come up might be likened to the playing of a game. If one is playing golf or bridge, for instance, he welcomes the various problems he meets. The fun of a game is in meeting and mastering the various problems that arise. Boring, indeed, would be the game in which there were no problems, no challenges. The player studies the rules of the game, and he knows that by applying these rules to each situation that arises, he can solve the problems.

To an even greater extent the Christian Scientist studies the rules of divine metaphysics. The Bible and the Christian Science textbook show him exactly what to do in every situation. He can greet each problem with joyful confidence and enthusiasm in the opportunity to practice the rules he has been studying. The process of solving problems can be as absorbing and entertaining as playing a game and much more inspiring.

Thus the Christian Scientist may say in the words of Paul to the people of the church in Corinth, "I am filled with comfort. I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation." ^{II Cor. 7:4.}