The Gospels tell us that a woman plagued for years with “an issue of blood” was finally healed when she reached out in faith and touched the hem of Christ Jesus’ garment (see Matthew 9:20–22). Could I ever relate! Over a decade ago, I had this problem myself. My monthly period would last longer than normal and was often excessive.

At that time, my approach to Christian Science was halfhearted. I occasionally attended a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, and I read the Bible Lesson found in the Christian Science Quarterly, but not regularly or deeply. Despite having moments of inspiration, I often felt I was aimlessly wandering in a wilderness outside of God’s love and direction. 

The abnormal blood flow came and went for several years, causing additional health problems. Because of concern from a close friend and some family members who were not Christian Scientists, I sought medical aid. The doctors wanted to help me, but the more they searched for a cause and solution, the more aggressive the symptoms became. Some very frightening diagnoses and predictions were made. Eventually I was sent to a specialist, who told me I needed surgery but was so anemic that I might not survive it. 

The problems continued, until one day I could no longer get out of bed because I was so weak and tired. It was at that point that I turned wholeheartedly to God for healing. I went to a Christian Science nursing facility for care and asked a Christian Science practitioner to pray for me daily. I remember one night I was screaming in fear, as I felt I was passing on. A Christian Science nurse came into the room and gently responded in a way that woke me up to the need to quietly listen for God’s voice. Immediately I calmed down. I really did want to hear God and find healing. 

I remember the practitioner talking to me about man’s spiritual origin as the child of God, divine Spirit. The doctors had said that a condition like mine is sometimes associated with childbearing, so it was helpful to understand that neither I nor my children had truly been born into matter. I grasped more clearly that God, good, is the only creator of man and that all of His children reflect His goodness.

Within five days of my entering the Christian Science nursing facility, the bleeding stopped, never to return. Like the woman in the Bible, I—my consciousness—had touched the hem of the healing garment of Christ, Truth, and I was grateful. 

Once that primary issue had been healed, I realized I needed to pray about other unresolved issues in my life. There had been some traumatic events in my past that continued to trouble me. One evening, after deep prayer and study, I felt impelled to say out loud, “I am not guilty. I am innocent!” This was clearly God’s tender message to me, countering the lie that I was somehow to blame for what had happened. I had lived with those lies for years.

I was completely freed from the anguish of those experiences by better understanding, as the first chapter of the Bible says, that man—the true identity of each of us—was created in God’s image and likeness. Anything unlike God is not our real history or nature but a false history of dreams. Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, “Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man’s dominion over the whole earth” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 14).

After a month, I was able to leave the Christian Science nursing facility. My progress continued at home until the healing of the anemia and related weakness was complete, about six months after the abnormal bleeding had stopped. There were many lessons and revelations along the way that eventually transformed my entire life. The spiritual growth I gained as a result of this healing even led me to become trained as a Christian Science nurse. 

Second Corinthians says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (5:17). The greatest change stemming from what I learned is that I am much more committed to the study and practice of Christian Science. As a result, I know better how to claim my innocence and my freedom from anything unlike God, whether it’s related to health, relationships, employment, or any other challenge. I also have a deep compassion for others who may be having a “wilderness” experience. I am dedicated to learning more each day of my and everyone’s inseparability from God.

Suzanne L. Brown
Oakville, Ontario, Canada