Over ten years ago, my husband and I were notified by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that we would be audited for the two previous years. We each had a small business, which we had heard could raise the probability of an audit. 

Though we had been honest in filling out our tax forms, we were a little apprehensive that we would be fined an amount of money we didn’t have to spare if the IRS found any errors. To add to our concern, several financial professionals we consulted after receiving the audit notifications, including our regular accountant, felt that some tax deductions we had taken would not be allowed. 

As we prayed, we affirmed that right would prevail—that God’s laws are supreme and that God would show us how to resolve any issues that might be identified. Rather than use professional services, we decided to represent ourselves, feeling that we could do the best job—with our divine Father-Mother’s ever-present guidance and wisdom. 

As I have done for many years and in a variety of situations, I took great comfort in Proverbs 3:5, 6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” 

I was also reassured by the definition of God in the Glossary of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence” (p. 587).

It was encouraging to know that we did not need to have all the answers or try to control others. We could lean on God and His love to reveal to everyone the ideas that were needed.

We called a Christian Science practitioner, who reminded us of the truth, familiar to us from our study of Christian Science, that there is only one Mind—God—and that this Mind is all good. We were confident that God’s law, which is just and good for all, was in control and that as His beloved children, we could not be wrongly accused or penalized.

Bringing our crates of documentation, we met with the IRS examiner. She found an error caused by the software we had used to prepare our tax returns. She could see that our information had been entered correctly, but the software had not calculated accurately. With her supervisor’s approval, she said she would waive all penalties. We knew that the one Mind, which is expressed by everyone, had enabled her to see the true facts of our case.

Then we were surprised to get another letter stating that the IRS had disallowed a significant amount of deductions for one year, which would have left us owing thousands of dollars with only two weeks to submit any additional information.

We continued to pray, knowing that under God’s law of harmony, good would prevail and that right ideas would emerge for all to see, since we are all God’s children and express the goodness and intelligence of Mind. The idea came to my husband for specific further documentation to add to the returns. We remained confident that the one Mind, our Father-Mother God, was in control and guiding us all.

Within a few weeks, we gratefully received a letter stating that the returns had been accepted as originally submitted. We owed no penalties and had to pay only the difference resulting from the software miscalculation, which was a small amount that we could manage. God, Truth, had prevailed. 

It is hard to imagine life without Christian Science. I love the confidence that comes from knowing that we are walking with God and being shown the right way, which protects us and brings peace. 

Nancy Hagan
Morrow, Ohio, US