While visiting in the home of my Japanese friend, I slid a window to one side, wanting to get a better view of the cherry trees that were in bloom. Somehow I could not slide it back in place, so my friend came to help me. I stepped back out of the way, not realizing a steep stairwell was directly behind me, and began to fall. My friend extended her hand to mine. I grasped it, and she helped me back to safety.

Even closer than a friend's hand is the hand of our Father-Mother God. How comforting it is to know that we can never be beyond His outstretched hand, never out of His sight, His love, His tender, watchful care! The Psalmist sang, "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." ^{Ps. 139:9, 10;}

Are we always ready to reach out and take the Father's hand? Sometimes it seems a difficult thing to do. Adjusting and planning things in our own way often appears in the guise of good, obstructing our path upward. Human will is not divine; it pushes. Knowing that each of God's children is upheld by His hand, governed by Him, is the divine way. Willingness to let God direct our lives and the lives of others takes discipline. Certainly it takes thinking—God-oriented thinking.

Christian Science teaches implicit dependence on God. Through the application of its teachings, we can prove in the very minutiae of our lives that God is guiding us. Then each experience becomes more orderly, fruitful, happy. The study of Christian Science enlarges our capacities, because we begin to see that intelligence is an unlimited quality of divine Mind, which man reflects. Science helps us develop spiritual sense, which strengthens our trust in the omnipotence of divine Principle, which meets every need. We can be confident that as our spiritual understanding of God increases, we will become more aware of His government of our lives, bringing us sweetness and deep, quiet calm.

Does this sound like Utopia? Highly improbable? It isn't. Mrs. Eddy cogently explains: "Christian Science refutes everything that is not a postulate of the divine Principle, God.... It is not a search after wisdom, it is wisdom: it is God's right hand grasping the universe,—all time, space, immortality, thought, extension, cause, and effect; constituting and governing all identity, individuality, law, and power." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 364.}

The exemplary life of Christ Jesus was undoubtedly attributable in great measure to his willingness to trust the guiding hand of the Father to direct every phase of his career. His obedience to God enabled him to heal the sick and raise the dead.

With our hand in God's, we can face the challenges that confront us, instead of backing off. Our trust in God is not a sign of weakness but of meekness. Through dependence on unfailing Mind we stop fearing the unknown. Conforming to the will of the Father enables us to meet with assurance the challenges we encounter. And it's really not that difficult to do. We can say with confidence, "Father, show me the way." Then—most importantly—we should listen for His guidance and follow His direction.

Frequently, a picture of my friend's outstretched hand flashes on the screen of my thought. I was falling, she reached out, I took hold. We can reach out to God for help. Then we can confidently apply for that job, accept the church appointment, communicate with our children, love our neighbor—and be successful!

The eternal God is thy refuge,
and underneath are
the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27