Every trial we face holds within it a blessing that takes us to a better place.
When faced with lack, pain or conflict, it may not seem like there is any blessing present to be grateful for. But there is! There is a spiritual momentum at work in the life of everyone teaching valuable spiritual lessons that serve to sever thought from reliance on matter to strengthening faith and understanding of life in Spirit. It’s inevitable that we all learn that God is the source of all health, supply and love. And we often learn through trial because we stubbornly hold onto outgrown material beliefs. And they must be let go before we can progress to something better.
It’s like when I was farming after college, but knew I was not in my right place. I wanted to be a Christian Science practitioner, but feared how I was going to make a living and support myself. So, I clung to the reliable income of the farming career. I suffered more and more physically, emotionally and spiritually, until the suffering was so great I was forced to make a change. I was forced to rely upon God for my income, rather than the farm. I did, and God came through marvelously and in so many unexpected wonderful ways. And that was the blessing that was working out all along. God was teaching me to rely more heavily on Spirit, and less on human ways and means to demonstrate supply. Once I accepted the lesson, the suffering ended and the trial ceased. And I was happier than ever.
In the above instance, I didn’t see the blessing while in the midst of my trial. I saw fear, reasons to worry and struggled with hopelessness and utter discouragement. But God got me through the ordeal and brought me out stronger than ever. Since then, I’ve learned to look for the blessing while in the middle of a trial. It helps me get through it with greater ease and certainty of a positive outcome.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Trials teach mortals not to lean on a material staff, — a broken reed, which pierces the heart” Science and Health, p. 66. And she goes on to state, “Trials are proofs of God’s care,” to which I add, “…because they send us to God, and there we find His care.”
So, whatever trial you are facing, look for the spiritual blessing. What is God teaching you about Love’s care that will bring you closer to God? What tie to material sense do you need to break? What fear needs to dissolve? What better place in Spirit is Truth lifting your thought to?
The quicker you see the spiritual purpose being worked out in your life, the sooner you’ll know where you need to go in thought to find your freedom. When the lesson is learned, the suffering will stop and the trial will end.
I used to interpret the statement “Trials are proofs of God’s care” as meaning God makes us experience hardships/suffering, similar to the way a parent punishes a child in an effort to change their behavior. But I never could reconcile that interpretation with the other statements in Science & Health that explain that God is Love and knows only good about His creation.
But then I noticed that Mrs. Eddy used the word “proofs” in this statement instead of “proof”. The word “proof” is usually used in both the singular and plural sense (like the word deer). Therefore, the fact that she used the word “proofs” made me think of the mathematical proofs I used to do in High School and College. Proofs in math or logic are a means of proving a statement based on already proven principles or theorems. Based on this idea, I now interpret this statement from Science and Health as follows: “Trials are experiences in which we realize a greater sense of God’s care for us by applying the truths we have already proven about God and His idea to another facet of our experience.”
Brian, that’s really helpful and clarified that statement for me too. Thank you.
Thank you, Evan. Such a tremendous lesson to learn, that we can’t possibly escape the infinite, almighty allness of God, omnipresent good in which we are TOTALLY loved. There is no other Life. In the midst of horrendous persecution, the early Christians felt this reality break through the nightmare. The followers circled the stoned body of Paul and, matter having no substance, and evil no power or presence in God’s allness, he rose up from death. He wrote:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
“For I am persuaded, that 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.”
Amen!
I agree with Shelly, nicely stated Brian and Thank you Evan and all for your thoughts today. What a great way to start today.
In this weeks Bible Lessons: 6-29 to 7-5.
I find in Psalms 30.2″ O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.”
I am searching for that healing to clear up a negative thought that has caused me a great deal of supposed physical pain.
We do not stand alone, from a human perspective, reaching for that greater spiritual understanding that meets our present need. Like Paul encircled by the community of believers, you are held in loving thought by many in this online community who are certain your need will be met. The many online lectures and audio interviews are a great resource. Psalm 139 and Isaiah 43 also. June lessons on the Comforter and the God the Preserver of Man full of buoyant images. The many resources of Jsh online. Much love, Linda
This is beautiful Linda and I too echo your thoughts of love to Bill and this entire online community (and the world).
I once had help from a practitioner who impressed me with her clear understanding that God, good, could not create pain. My mother has been complaining of pain lately and although she has not asked me for help through Christian Science (she’s currently investigating a medical approach to dealing with this situation), early this morning it occurred to me that I needed to correct this idea in my own thought that anyone can experience pain. The thought of this practitioner I mentioned above came to mind and I chuckled to myself at the reminder of her clear understanding that God, good, could not and would not cause pain. It would be like the sun trying to create darkness. If you really deeply think about the idea of God, Love, creating pain, the ridiculousness of that lie will become so apparent that it must silence that belief.
What a helpful and encouraging message and experience from Evan! Blessings, love and gratitude to all for their special insights and supportive prayers! Never having considered myself a “math” person, I appreciate learning about “mathematical proofs” and that application to Mrs. Eddy’s quote as Brian shared. I suppose it might be likened to the legal field in which cases of the past provide the principles and foundation for later rulings. Ahhh…..and we are NOT guilty!
Thank you very much Evan – I need to get to the answers of your questions. Easier said then done. How to get there? The material pictures are overwhelming. I must break through more sooner than later. I appreciate and find helpful the dialogue today, as well.
I have dwelt on the Bible saying; “ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM WHO LOVE GOD.”
All the trials that I had to through, the above helped me to get through it by knowing that only good would be the outcome. God being a jealous God has nothing to do with the human emotion of jealousy but really means to rely on God only, not money, not material power or even love for another but on God ALONE, and all these things shall come and bless.
Thanks, Brian.
In my darkest hours, when my trials have been overwhelming, I have asked God to care a little less, if trials are proofs of his care. I didn’t need any more proofs! However, in my more inspired moments I have been able to reflect on past trials and see the blessings that resulted in these experiences.
Thanks to all for the comments made so far – they’ve all been thoughtful and inspiring.
Thank you, Evan, for this oh, so important topic……i.e. “Does God send us Trials to punish us or to teach us a needed Lesson?” I think that one statement from Mrs. Eddy: “Trials are proofs of God’s care” – has stumped many a Christian Scientist down thru the years! And I think it’s because, as Human Beings, we all carry a measure of guilt and a sense of ourselves as sinners. To have Jesus come and tell us we aren’t really Sinners and then to have Mrs. Eddy expand on this, is just a Huge Idea that we all are grappling with! And Brian, I love your explanation – one of the Best I have Ever Heard!!! Thank you both so much! Made my Day! Love You!
the comments this week by all have been very helpful. I have experienced freedom before and those are the proofs I remember. Years ago when I began studying, the Truth seemed to be so disruptive as it was setting on its head mortal mind. I remember clearly one day recognizing that my suffering was not from the Truth but from hanging on to the lie- somewhat like refusing to let go of a burning pot handle. I see the blessing as freedom from this suffering of the false sense.