Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to header Skip to footer

your Q&A

Following the example set by the question-and-answer columns in the early Journals, when Mary Baker Eddy was Editor, this column will respond to general queries from Journal readers—such as the one below. It will generally not cover questions about how to interpret statements in Mrs. Eddy's writings. There's more information at the end of the column about how to submit questions.

your Q&A

From the November 2004 issue of The Christian Science Journal


Q How do you conquer discouragement when study and prayer not only don't bring healing and progress, but seem to worsen existing problems?

A To feel discouraged is to feel hopeless. But as long as God is Love—and I believe with all my heart that He is—hope will never desert you. Even in the most distressing circumstances, you can think of that Love as a shining light that can't be dimmed. The Bible says, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5).

As tempting as it is to think about the problem, experience has proved to me that when one begins to focus on the goodness and power of God, healing will come more readily. I once fell hard on one elbow. After I'd spent some weeks praying for healing, it still hurt, and I wondered if it was broken. I realized the focus of my prayers needed to shift. Instead of continuing to pray simply for my bone to come back together, I started praying to see that God brings all people together. Divine Love, I realized, was the one source of everything and everyone. I was praying about the same basic ideas as before, but now I was broadening the focus of my prayers to include everyone. This eventually wiped out any sense of hurt and brought a complete healing.

Sign up for unlimited access

You've accessed 1 piece of free Journal content

Subscribe

Subscription aid available

 Try free

No card required

More In This Issue / November 2004

concord-web-promo-graphic

Explore Concord—see where it takes you.

Search the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures