Strength, even from a human standpoint, is something which all men desire. The very thought of it opens up a vision of power to win good, of ability to resist and overcome that which would oppose good. Strength has generally stood for protection, from its stone fortresses with their great walls to keep evil without, to its stone prisons with their stout bolts and bars to keep evil within. Men have prayed to receive strength mentally, and have longed to possess it physically. Since, as in all other merely human effort, they have looked to matter to find what they desired, they have been finally disappointed; for strengthen things as they might materially, there was always the haunting fear that a stronger would come and thus prove their strength but weakness. With strength, as with other things, mankind has looked to matter to find what was never there.
Now what is ordinarily called strength can never satisfy, whether it seems to belong to person or thing, whether it claims to be physical or mental; for it is always limited, evanescent, unreliable. Associated as it is with the belief in matter, it apparently partakes of its supposed nature and is as unstable as materiality itself. At its best, it is but a poor counterfeit of true strength. But as there could never even claim to be a counterfeit were there not first a reality to be simulated, so the material sense of strength is but a vain effort to put forth an unreality in the name of that which is real and eternal.
Spiritual strength on the other hand is, in its final analysis, a quality of God, although like all divine characteristics it must be applied to human problems in the evangelization of human selfhood. When the Psalmist sang, "The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" he was wise enough to see that if he found his strength in God he would be lifted above all fear.
With the understanding of one's unity with divine strength how could any one be afraid? Strength means power, and if conscious of being at-one with God's limitless, perfect power, what of good could not one accomplish? If endued with resistless strength, there would be the ability to triumph over every opposing element, whatever form it might claim to assume. The very word "strength" brings the thought of immeasurable activity and might. Strength from God, then, is something greatly to be desired, and possessing it the Christian warrior can go forth without doubt or fear to continuous victory over all the enemies which may assail him in his progress Spiritward.
Recognizing that spiritual strength must be had if one is to work out life's problems properly, and knowing that it comes only from God, the question immediately arises: How is it to be attained? In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 407), our Leader writes, "Christian Science is the sovereign panacea, giving strength to the weakness of mortal mind,—strength from the immortal and omnipotent Mind,—and lifting humanity above itself into purer desires, even into spiritual power and good-will to man."
Now, anomalous as it may appear, it is nevertheless true that it is out of weakness we are to be made strong. Only as we become conscious of the total futility of all merely human effort to attain any real good can we awaken to the need of that spiritual strength which is to aid us in the vanquishing of all evil. Rarely does one come to Christian Science wholeheartedly until, through recurring disappointment, he has discovered that in some way he must find a strength he has never before known, if he is to master the difficulties which he seems so continually to encounter.
Indeed, one reason why even Christian Scientists find old problems assailing and reassailing them is because they have not yet discovered with sufficient conviction the powerlessness and weakness of personal effort. They are still trying to do things somewhat in their own strength, which is, after all, but the paltry weakness of mortal mind. Human pride must go down before one can give his whole heart to God, and each one must see the total inadequacy of his own puerile, personal efforts before he is willing to turn absolutely to the Science where only he can find the strength from "the immortal and omnipotent Mind" which is to lift him above himself "into spiritual power and good-will to man."
Christian Scientists should never be discouraged by disappointment and apparent failure. If they are honest and earnest, they will find such trials only added opportunity to drop the pride and egotism which it often requires prayer and struggle to uncover and uproot entirely. The time must come when each one must knock humbly at the gate of Christian Science, willing to attempt nothing without the support, direction, and control of divine Mind. Then he will find spiritual strength at hand to lift him up and carry him safely forward on his journey. Then he will have really started, and must use this spiritual strength valiantly in overcoming all that would claim to oppose it. Spiritual strength will never fail. The harder it is pressed, the more potent it appears; and it is always victorious. But it must be used! Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 567), "Truth and Love come nearer in the hour of woe, when strong faith or spiritual strength wrestles and prevails through the understanding of God."
"Through the understanding of God"! Through the understanding of His strength. His power, His might! And through the understanding that man reflects all this glorious wonder! This understanding is spiritual strength. This is the power no evil claim can withstand. "He uttered his voice, the earth melted." Then, as Christian Scientists, let us go forward with the God-given assurance that spiritual strength is invincible, and that before it the mountains of error must inevitably disappear!
