A number of years ago I developed pain in my hip. There were no bruises, wounds, or sores, but it became increasingly uncomfortable and painful to walk, sit, or lie on my back. I called a Christian Science practitioner, who was also my Christian Science teacher, for help. The pain persisted, however, and I became increasingly uncomfortable.
At one point, I felt very discouraged. The practitioner pointed out that discouragement was just a form of temptation. I thought of temptation as something akin to immorality and was determined to keep that out of my thought. As I pondered this idea, I saw that the temptation was to believe in any power other than God. At the same time, I feared for my life and felt that I didn’t have the understanding necessary to have a healing, but in a desire to be obedient and have only one God before me, I continued praying and reading, knowing that God was revealing to me what I needed to know.
One afternoon, I was home alone and reached for my Science and Health, accidentally knocking it onto the floor. I felt as if everything was working against me. I had been unable to get out of bed for some time, but determined to retrieve my book, I got out of bed and down onto the floor and was able to reach my book wedged between the bed and the wall. I felt such gratitude and victory to be able to do this and took a firm stand for my freedom right then.
