One generally thinks of first aid as the initial, immediate physical care given someone when he or she has been injured or is suddenly taken ill. If we are called on to provide some physical assistance in an emergency, we can still turn in prayer to what really is the most immediate, most effective source of help we all have: God, divine Love. In Psalms we read, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." ^{Ps. 46:1.}

Christian Science teaches that God is omnipresent, that is, ever present, everywhere. Then, we can never be in a situation or place where we are cut off from God, where He can't help us. Paul assured the Romans, "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ^{Rom. 8:38, 39.} We are never alone, never cut off from divine help.

We're also taught that God is omniscient, all-knowing. Divine Love supplies our need before we ask, through Christ, God's spiritual idea. Actually, God only knows us in our true being, as man, His spiritual reflection, not as sick and sinning mortals, subject to matter and its limitations.

Christ Jesus' understanding of man's true nature enabled him to prove over and over that man isn't bound by materiality. The Master healed many individuals instantaneously—with no aftereffects, no convalescing periods, and no lingering material evidence.

God is also omnipotent, all-powerful. We need look no further for our help, because nothing can withstand divine power. When, through prayer, we avail ourselves of this truth, we find a sure answer to our needs. Just as darkness disappears when a light is turned on, so false beliefs about man disappear when the truth of being is seen and understood. We don't have to accept or suffer from mortal beliefs, which have no real basis or power. Since God is good and He is All, there can be no evil. Recognizing God to be Love, we can be confident that there is nothing unloving to fear. Indeed, in reality there is no fear. God's allness excludes lack—of health, supply, guidance, wisdom, intelligence, love, life. As we understand this fact, we find that we have what we need, every moment, wherever we are.

Yet we are sometimes reluctant to trust our needs to God. Mrs. Eddy puts it this way in Science and Health: "We admit that God has almighty power, is 'a very present help in trouble;' and yet we rely on a drug or hypnotism to heal disease, as if senseless matter or erring mortal mind had more power than omnipotent Spirit." ^{Science and Health, p. 202.} Mortal mind, a supposed intelligence based in matter, would rob us of the very thing we need through arguments of inadequacy, lack of time, distance, even the suggestion that God only helps us through other people or by material means. In our real being as God's man, we reflect and express what Mind knows. On the human scene this may mean that we have to be still instead of striving willfully, and let Christ, Truth, be manifested in our experience. And during times when we feel we need to fight for our life and health, we can be confident that in reality we eternally reflect perfect, unchanging Life, God.

Let's not be tempted to think that God is everywhere but where we or our loved ones are. Rather, let's start viewing the situation properly by acknowledging that God, omnipresent Spirit, is our true source and only choice for help. What a comforting feeling to know that our real "first aid" is always available, no matter what the material circumstance! And this is no mere stopgap measure; the effect of our reliance on Truth is immediate and complete.