Although the word "trial" in its original sense does not indicate such a signification, in one of its meanings it has become synonymous with "suffering." In the epistle of James we find "tried" coordinated with "endureth temptation;" and in the same chapter we read, "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." Since God does not tempt anyone, He does not send trials.
Trials may be regarded as opportunities of demonstrating God's presence and power; and this view of them is highly helpful. Every right interpretation of a trial—seeing it not merely as a condition of suffering, but as a test which is to be passed successfully—helps us to meet difficulties with confidence and courage.
A student of Christian Science once experienced a trial followed by anxiety and fear. The thought then came to him that in a certain language the word "trial" also signifies examination by a test at school and university. If a pupil knows his lesson and the rules to be applied, what reason has he to fear? So in his trial the student saw that he had but to turn wholly to infinite Mind, God, the only reality, the only power, and listen only to God's voice, which silences the utterings of error. God's voice, the voice of Love, has absolute authority and power; and it demands obedience to His perfect divine law, which in turn controls all in perfect harmony, holiness, health, perfection.
Irresistible divine Love has no real opposite, no real adversary. It precludes any opposite or opposition. Is not God, infinite Love, ever at hand, eternally willing to help? Is not God, infinite wisdom, intelligence, and omnipotence, always present and available? Is not God's idea, man, of the same nature as God, Principle, constantly subject to perfect spiritual law, the only law that really is; always obeying it, and thus availing himself of its power and blessings? Is not God's idea, man, always reflecting and expressing God's perfect qualities and faculties as spontaneously as the rays of the sun reflect the sun, without effort? Then, may not each one of us have the divine inspiration requisite for the solving of our every problem?
Having answered these questions affirmatively, and having denied the reality of any material law, person, or thought, since God is the only Mind, the only reality, the student was filled with deep gratitude, peace, and joy. Although the material circumstances, which had seemed to him alarming, had not changed, in the process of true thinking the sense of fear and discord had entirely disappeared. The student realized that the problem, the trial, which existed only in so-called material consciousness, already was solved. The real solution, the right answer, was in knowing that to God, as well as to His perfect idea, man, there are no trials, problems, temptations, or difficulties whatever; no discord; nothing imperfect, incomplete, unsolved; no trace of anxiety, sin, materiality, but "infinity, freedom, harmony, and boundless bliss" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 481).
This process of right thinking implied a complete giving up of so-called human will, an entire abandoning of material desires, a fervent, grateful feeling of liberty and exaltation in realizing spiritual unity and at-one-ment with, and inseparability from, the divine source, infinite Principle. Soon after this clear realization of the truth, the solution was also manifested to human sense, in a much more harmonious way than the student had hitherto been able to think, hope, or outline.
In Science and Health (p. 66) Mrs. Eddy has written, "Trials are proofs of God's care." How true this is! God does not send trials, but God's care and love are always present, always available. This may be proved and demonstrated in the midst of our seeming difficulties and trials, during the most critical moments of our testing times; for the inexhaustible divine Love and intelligence, from which the right answers, the right inspirations, are flowing to us without limitation or restriction, abundantly, freely, is ever at hand. Our spiritual mastery of the trial, the examination, which perhaps at first seems uncertain and dubious, turns out to be a step forward and upward, a joy and blessing, leading thought to clearer spiritual perception of God's care and infinite love. The following words of our beloved Leader (ibid., p. 574) are illuminating: "The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares."
James says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Temptations, trials, as well as sufferings, are only material concepts, false beliefs of mortal sense which do not exist in the reality of being. It is our ignorance of God and His perfect creation which makes us believe in evil, and consequently suffer trials; but this ignorance and its effect, suffering, compel us to seek the true knowledge of God, to gain spiritual understanding; and thus trials become a means of salvation and deliverance. Thereby the whole nature of the trial is changed into a means of turning us more earnestly to Truth.
Let us, then, with Paul pray for "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him [God]." And having thus prayed sincerely, humbly, fervently, let us know with certainty, and declare with strength, that our prayer is heard; that we possess this spiritual light, since we "live, and move, and have our being" in God, in man's native atmosphere of love, purity, wisdom, and holiness. Let us know that there is not, has never been, and will never be in reality any wall of partition between God, Principle, and His ideas, any veil of material thinking separating the children of God from their heavenly Father-Mother God.
May we, then, sing in our hearts —yea, why not audibly?—songs of praise and thanks. May we rejoice in the glorious fact that our hearts are wide open to receive God's holy thoughts; that we cannot help receiving them, since receptivity is a faculty nothing can take from us.
A trial properly met includes the necessity of obeying, at least in a degree, the admonition of Paul, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." And this process of transformation and renewal must always consist in exchanging materiality for spirituality.
