“God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7). This beautiful biblical passage became a living reality in my experience.
In 2001 I was led to make a move from Texas to Ohio to be with my mother and support her. This move proved to be a right idea and a lovely, mutual blessing. However, within a few months after the move, I began to be afflicted with frequent, debilitating migraines.
As I prayed one day, I recalled a time when I had been living away from home and my parents had separated. During that time I had a migraine that rendered me briefly unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, I prayed with “the scientific statement of being” in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and this statement instantly became clear: “Matter is the unreal and temporal” (p. 468).
The full sentence reads: “Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal.” I reasoned that if matter was “unreal and temporal,” it wasn’t true or lasting, and in fact, it could take none of my time at all! Rejoicing in this fact, I fell into a peaceful sleep for about ten minutes and awoke completely well. I arose and bounded downstairs, going about my business with great joy. My parents eventually reunited.
Recalling these truths and the clear evidence of God’s tender, loving care, I rejoiced and gave thanks to Almighty God, who, as divine Love and Life, is omnipotent and ever present. And I endeavored to put into practice this statement of truth from Science and Health: “Mind’s government of the body must supersede the so-called laws of matter. Obedience to material law prevents full obedience to spiritual law,—the law which overcomes material conditions and puts matter under the feet of Mind” (p. 182).
I also received metaphysical treatment at various times from a Christian Science practitioner, whose loving support was a comfort. The practitioner shared with me the thought that suffering is a belief that divine Mind, God, could be dethroned.
My dear mother came to me one day and said, “I’m so glad you have a refuge from the storm,” because she, too, understood that my health and peace were from God. I also found comfort in reading hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal. I had resolved to fully know my identity as a beloved child of God, and I refused to bow down to any other gods—material means and laws.
During this time, my mother and I were led to make a move to a town about thirty miles away in order to be closer to our branch Church of Christ, Scientist. It was an intense and demanding time, as I was overseeing and carrying out the bulk of responsibilities. Even so, it proved to be a very harmonious move, and nothing interfered with the move and preparation of the new home. And I am truly grateful for the tender warmth and lovingkindness in which fellow church members embraced my mother and me.
A couple of months after the move, the migraines again returned, with greater intensity, and the suggestion came that perhaps I should take medication or go to the hospital. I reached out to God with my whole heart and asked Him what I needed to know to take a strong stand for the power of God to heal. Immediately my thought was flooded with the Bible account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (the three Hebrew men who were cast into a furnace for refusing to bow down to an image of gold). I knew that though they walked in the midst of the fiery furnace, heated seven times more than usual, they were completely untouched, and that the Christ, the Son of God, was in the midst of them (see Daniel 3).
This knowledge sustained me, and I quietly affirmed, “I know my life is eternal and that nothing can touch my being. I know my identity is safe, and I will only yield to Life, Truth, and Love. I am not afraid.” I was experiencing the blessing of that quote from Second Timothy, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear. . . .”
A few months later I realized with deep joy that I hadn’t had any migraine attacks for a while. Although I had a few more of them, I was alert and refused to give them any power, knowing there was nothing to fear. Each time the symptoms quickly left me. About a year and a half after the first headaches, they completely ended. That was over twenty years ago.
An additional blessing was the strengthening of my confidence in God’s healing power. While truly grateful for the freedom from suffering, I felt a deep humility and reverence for the spiritual growth attained through standing my ground and walking hand in hand with God. Soon after this healing I had the added joy of being elected Second Reader in my branch church.
Divine Principle, Love, sustained me all the way through this experience, and it was a glorious victory. What an “unspeakable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15) we have from the Father through the comfort of His love.
Kathleen Mitchener
Madison, Wisconsin, US
