Daily we see suffering in the world, and mankind yearning to be relieved of this suffering. One day as I was praying for mankind, these words came to me: "There is no thorn."
One definition of thorn is "anything that keeps troubling, vexing, or irritating one, like a constantly pricking thorn." Paul refers in the Bible to his "thorn in the flesh," II Cor. 12:7. and prior to Christ Jesus' crucifixion the Master was made to wear a "crown of thorns." See John 19:2,3. In Unity of Good Mary Baker Eddy speaks of the "gospel of suffering" and the views of Paul and Peter on the subject. Then she writes: "Sorrow is the harbinger of joy. Mortal throes of anguish forward the birth of immortal being; but divine Science wipes away all tears." Un., p. 57. At first glance it may appear that Mrs. Eddy is affirming the theological belief that suffering is God-sent. But she says that "divine Science wipes away all tears." Clearly, Christian Science doesn't legitimize the belief in suffering but heals it.
While human belief may consider suffering to be virtuous and noble, and necessary for spiritual growth, it is nevertheless a false sense of being. Suffering often does impel us to go higher spiritually, and yet in order for God to make suffering requisite for virtue and spiritual growth, He would have to know evil as well as good, sorrow as well as joy. But can infinite good create or permit evil? Does divine good need to inflict suffering in order to perfect man, who was made in God's likeness, flawless and whole?
