Facing Problems

There is a statement in Science and Health that reads, “Final deliverance from error, whereby we rejoice in immortality, boundless freedom, and sinless sense, is not reached through paths of flowers.” It made me very grateful for a lesson I learned soon after joining this church, and that is, there is no easy way to grow.

As a child I attended Boston-affiliated Sunday Schools. By the time I came to Plainfield as a young adult, I was firmly convinced that the sole purpose of Christian Science was to enable us to live a life without problems; a path of flowers. I remember having some very wonderful healings after I got here — healings of health, of relationships, financial, mental — a lot of wonderful healings. I knew that I had found the right practice of Christian Science when I found this church and a practitioner in this church. However, in the back of my mind there was a nagging concern as to why I was having these problems in the first place. What was wrong with me that I was having all these problems? I did not think this was the way Christian Science was supposed to be.

I was relieved of that misconception by a practitioner in this church who taught me that it is not the purpose of Christian Science to make our lives problem-free. The purpose of Christian Science is to destroy the belief in sin and disease for mankind, and through our prayers we are to help ourselves and others to be what God made us, to be perfect, as God is. If we have problems, those are stepping stones in our spiritual growth. In fact, it is impossible to grow spiritually without having problems to face, facing them head on, and growing.

Facing and overcoming problems each day is not something to be avoided. I soon found that whenever I took a strong stand against something that was wrong, I would always meet resistance. The devil does not want to be destroyed.

Once this revelation sank in, it made a wonderful difference in my life. I no longer condemn myself or get angry when I face problems. In fact, there came a period where I actually looked forward to problems because it meant I was going to grow closer to God and feel His love even more.

I thank God for the help of our practitioners and that particular practitioner. I am also grateful to Mrs. Eddy for faithfully giving us this clear and complete explanation of what life is really about.