Feeling God’s love brought healing

Years ago, when our son was just seven weeks old, I began to understand one of the most valuable truths taught in Christian Science: that even in a frightening situation, I could trust God’s love to dissolve my fear; I could turn to Him with confidence and see my children protected, loved, and healed.

My parents had become committed Christian Scientists largely because of a dramatic healing of infection that I’d had as an infant. As a result, I had the privilege of being raised with the peace, freedom, joy, and confidence that the study of Christian Science provides. And I wanted my children to experience this same assurance that good from God is always available to them. I wanted them to know the strength that comes from trusting God’s government of your life.

But there I was, very alarmed by the fever our infant son appeared to have. He was extremely warm to the touch and listless. I called a Christian Science practitioner right away to pray for us. He was happy to be helpful, but said that since he was on his way out of town, it would be better to call someone I could keep in close contact with (this was before the days of cellphones and e-mail).

I walked around holding our baby, afraid to put him in his bed. I knew that this fear was definitely not helpful, but I couldn’t seem to control my thinking or my emotions.

Yet I knew, too, that God, who is Love itself, was everywhere, no matter where our individual thinking might be trying to take us. And besides, I had turned to God before for healing and received it.

While I was pacing, my husband arrived home early from work. He, too, is a Christian Scientist. He gently took the baby from me and put him in his bed. Then he phoned another practitioner. While my husband stayed with the baby, I talked to the practitioner about how frightened I felt and why. The practitioner, however, was calm, assuring me that there was no reason to be concerned about my fear—that fear itself had no power to harm one of God’s little ones. Fear, he told me, is an empty, negative suggestion, without reality, place, or power since God is the only Cause and Creator. To me that idea is what the following verse maintains: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18). And Science and Health explains that John’s statement is “a definite and inspired proclamation of Christian Science” (Science and Health, p. 410).

Not only was the practitioner telling me that divine Love erases all sense of fear, but that when we understand that all is Love—God—we realize there is nothing to be afraid of. As Science and Health confirms: “To fear them [sickness and death] is impossible, when you fully apprehend God and know that they are no part of His creation” (Science and Health, p. 231).

During this phone conversation I experienced a true clarity of thought—I saw that both my son and I were spiritual, kept free from harm by God’s love. At the same time I was filled with love and trust. The fear completely left, and I felt Love caring for my little boy, and for me, and everyone.

As I hung up the phone, my husband walked out of our baby’s room and told me the fever was gone. I went into the nursery, put my hand on my son’s face, and felt a normal, cool little baby. He woke up a bit later, and was happy and alert with no return of the symptoms.

This healing has been a great support to me over the years, helping me feel with conviction and understanding that fear is groundless, powerless, and unreal because not of God. He is speaking to us at all times, caring for us, and we can prove this with scientific certainty.

Nancy Mooslin | Los Angeles, California, US