It is not an uncommon experience to feel the need of comfort and consolation through an outpouring of the heart's burden and sorrow. At such times to many in all ages God has been the unfailing refuge: the thought that He knew all about the trouble has been reassuring and comforting. The seeker of Truth who comes to Christian Science either for physical healing or because of some other need, begins at an early stage to understand more about God, and from other than his former viewpoints. There is the possibility, however, that he may become rather perplexed, if not somewhat perturbed, before he has traveled very far in his study, or is able to grasp much of the real inward meaning of Christian Science.
For example, when it dawns upon the student's consciousness that God cannot know anything at all about sin, sickness, or death, or the so-called ills to which the human race appears to be heir, he is prone to dwell on the thought that he has lost his God, his former source of comfort; and his apparent loneliness may find expression after the following manner: "But what am I to do? If God knows nothing whatever of my human existence, how can He heal me?" In "Unity of Good" (p. 18) our dear Leader has written: "Many fancy that our heavenly Father reasons thus: If pain and sorrow were not in My mind, I could not remedy them, and wipe the tears from the eyes of My children. Error says you must know grief in order to console it." And she adds: "God says, I show My pity through divine law, not through human. It is My sympathy with and My knowledge of harmony (not inharmony) which alone enable Me to rebuke, and eventually destroy, every supposition of discord."
The working out of one's own salvation is a process of demonstration, by means of the truth; and invariably it is accomplished "precept upon precept; line upon line." Many of the Bible narratives are exceedingly helpful; and in this connection the story of the prodigal son is both encouraging and illuminating.
