Throughout the Scriptures we are constantly assured of God's guidance and protection. For many centuries mankind have tried to avail themselves of this promised divine care, believing that a supernatural power would shield them from evil if they were able to induce God to set aside the natural order of things for their sake. Praying to a God whose nature and personality they did not understand, they begged for divine protection only when no protection could be secured from any other source. They hoped for divine guidance—after they themselves had mapped out the way; or looked with superstitious awe for some sign from heaven. Often when God's protection was most needed and most urgently desired, men were heartbroken when, in spite of their pleadings, God did not intervene and no supernatural sign appeared to indicate the way.
Is it a wonder that mortals began to look upon the Bible stories relating the care of the divine Father for His children, as myths,—sounding well, comforting and soothing, but wholly impractical and useless for present day experience? And those who, throughout their disappointments, continued to seek the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, did so with fear and doubt in their hearts, hardly expecting that Deity would prove Himself now as of old powerful and effective in their behalf.
To-day multitudes of men, women, and children all over the world are again learning how to avail themselves of God's guidance and protection. They prove daily that indeed "the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." In joyful gratitude they bear witness that the loving-kindness of God is a living power when the light of Christian Science dispels credulity and superstition. It is then seen, clearly and logically, how scientific the guidance and protection of God must be when He is understood as divine Principle. Those who have believed in a manlike God, whom they thought to be personally interested in their human affairs, may at first become somewhat confused when Christian Science bids them let go of this impossible concept of Deity. However, if they approach the new-old idea open-mindedly, they will soon experience the tremendous influence for good which the knowledge of God as divine Principle is in human affairs.
