It would be difficult to find an individual who is not trying to make progress in some direction. The individual who is endeavoring to achieve a fuller realization of good might be surprised if he were told that an impetus higher than mere human desire is impelling him onward—namely the divine will; for it is in accordance with the Father's purpose that one demonstrate his perfection as actually the child of God.
Humanly, perfection appears as the progressive unfoldment of goodness and harmony in every detail of our experience. But, in reality, true perfection is ordained and sanctioned by God Himself, and His will cannot be thwarted or frustrated. Therefore it is impossible for God's child to meet with hindrance or failure. To material sense, the opposite seems to be the case, for it claims that the blessings which God has in store for us are often difficult, even impossible of attainment. This false sense looks upon certain persons and circumstances as stumbling blocks to progress, and argues that we do not possess sufficient wisdom, understanding, or faith to surmount the obstacles that beset us.
Paul asks (Rom. 8:31), "If God be for us, who can be against us?" The answer is that no person or circumstance can be against us in reality, for there is no secondary power than can override God's will or nullify His purpose. Why, then, on every hand do we seem to see the opposite evidence? Mary Baker Eddy makes it clear that actually it is not the outward circumstance which is occasioning the difficulty; our own conclusions have a decided effect upon our experience for good or evil. In other words, we are a law to ourselves. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 86): "Mortal mind sees what it believes as certainly as it believes what it sees. It feels, hears, and sees its own thoughts."
