Never beyond God’s help

by Annette Bridges. © 2006. All rights reserved.

I was alone in my bedroom lying on the bed. The pain in my chest was so intense that I couldn’t move. My daughter was visiting for the weekend, but she was still asleep in her room with the door shut and her husband was in the living room at the other end of the house watching television. My husband was out making a delivery to a hay customer. I couldn’t cry aloud for help – but I didn’t think anyone would hear me anyway. Was I helpless? What could I do?

Words from a hymn in the Christian Science hymnal were the first to come to my rescue: “God is my strong salvation; What foe have I to fear? In darkness and temptation, my light, my help, is near. Though hosts encamp around me, Firm in the fight I stand, What terror can confound me, With God at my right hand?” (Hymn 77)

Then the Biblical promise my mother often quoted assured me: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8)

I immediately felt calmer. The fear that had gripped me began to subside. What came to mind next was the first sentence from what Mary Baker Eddy called “the scientific statement of being” in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “There is no life, truth,  intelligence, nor substance in matter.” (p. 468)

Thinking of the pain as synonymous with matter, I reasoned, “There is no life in pain, there is no truth in pain, there is no intelligence in pain, and there is no substance in pain.” I knew these statements were true because God is the only life, truth, intelligence and substance. I knew that I was the reflection of my Father-Mother God, that every part of my being reflected God. I knew there could not be a moment when I was not reflecting the absolute perfection of God.

From the time I had first started studying Christian Science, the truth that “all things are possible to God” – at all times and in all situations – had become very real to me. Mary Baker Eddy’s study of the Bible, the healings she had, and those she helped others to have, resulted in her discovery that healing was a natural outcome of acknowledging, affirming and practicing the laws of God that are found in the Bible. For the benefit of all, she explained these laws in Science and Health, telling how to apply them in the practice of scientific, mental healing.

Often in the past, when I prayed, I had found it helpful and strengthening to walk around, literally pacing back and forth, affirming the laws of God as law to my being , applicable to whatever situation I was praying about at the time. I would liken myself to a lawyer on a case, arguing for the innocence of a client.

While this time I could not do my usual walking and pacing, I argued I could still mentally affirm just as powerfully that God was governing and protecting me.

I recalled a statement from the chapter entitled “Christian Science Practice” in Science and Health: “Insist vehemently on the great fact which covers the whole ground, that God, Spirit, is all, and that there is none beside Him.” (p. 421) So although I could not move, I could “insist vehemently” that I was not alone and helpless, that God was always with me. I could “insist vehemently” that every thought, every hymn verse, every Bible passage, every statement from Science and Health, that came to me, represented laws of God coming to my rescue and affirming my innocence – my exemption from suffering.

After a short time, the pain abated. I could move close enough to reach the telephone, and was able to call my husband on his cell phone. He was just driving through the gate of our ranch. When he got to the house, he called a Christian Science Practitioner to further assist me prayerfully, because at that moment, I was leery of trying to stand and walk, fearing that the pain might return.

The practitioner assured me that I was completely safe in God’s care, and that nothing could intrude upon my perfect soundness. He also told me that I could trust the effectiveness of the prayerful work I had been doing. In that one call, the remaining doubt that I might not be totally free was completely dispelled.

I was soon able to stand and walk and get on with my family activities planned for the day. The pain did not return. I was fine and remained fine.

This experience has filled me with hope. Hope that says, “It’s never too late.” “We’re never out of reach.” “Nothing is beyond repair.” “No situation is too dire.” I truly believe there can be no extremity in our body, in our family, with our job – even on a battlefield – where the healing laws of God can’t rescue us.

Dream lessons from Daniel

by Annette Bridges. © 2006. All rights reserved.

The Bible in My life

How well I remember the Bible stores read to me as a child! Daniel in the lions’ den. Joseph with his coat of many colors. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. David and Goliath. And many others.

Throughout my life, the Bible has been my life coach. If I need guidance of any kind, I know I can find it in the Scriptures. And Science and Health assures me that “the Bible contains the recipe for all healing” (p. 406). Again and again, I am finding this to be so.

Not long ago I learned a lesson from the account of Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, in chapters one to four of the Old Testament book of Daniel. The king sought advice from magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers, about the significance of these dreams, but they gave him no satisfaction.

Eventually Daniel – who had prayed that the “wisdom and might” of God might be revealed to him –was brought to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel offered an interpretation, but the king feared that the humility called for in Daniel’s response, which pointed to God’s supremacy, would threaten the “power, and strength, and glory” he had worked so hard to attain.

It was Nebuchadnezzar’s pride that caught my attention. At the time, I was working on a variety of projects. I enjoyed what I was doing, but I was feeling that I was the only person on the job who could accomplish the tasks efficiently. Many days, I felt burdened and overwhelmed. I should have asked for assistance from other members on my team, but I didn’t – mainly because I didn’t think anyone else could get the job done as well as I could.

Soon, I began to suffer from severe headaches. I couldn’t sleep at night, because I would lie in bed thinking about all that I had to get done the next day. Some nights I suffered constricting pains in my chest that were so severe I could hardly breathe.

It was during one of my sleepless nights that I reread that story about Nebuchadnezzar. Suddenly I realized that I was expressing a similar kind of puffed-up pride. I had been thinking my skills were indispensable and irreplaceable. Self-righteousness and self-justification controlled my reasoning and actions.

Then it struck me that it wasn’t until Nebuchadnezzar had humbled himself before God and learned to “praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth,” that his life was restored and renewed (Dan 4:37).

Reading about Nebuchadnezzar’s experience made me feel humble, too – even a bit ashamed of myself. I was reminded of Jesus’ words, “I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).

Gradually I came to think of the Bible’s characters as friends who shared not only their trials and challenges with me, but also their triumphs and the lessons they had learned. It was encouraging to know that others had walked down similar paths, surmounted roadblocks, and gotten back on track when spiritual insight called for a change in direction.

“Throughout my life, the Bible has been my life coach” H Mary Baker Eddy explained that we have the ability to improve our circumstances when she wrote, “If you believe in and practice wrong knowingly, you can at once change your course and do right” (Science and Health, p. 253). So that’s what I did. After praying to better understand God’s power and His government of our workplace, I became more of a team player – delegating tasks and sharing responsibilities. I stopped judging and criticizing others’ efforts. In fact, I gained an appreciation of my fellow co-workers and their talents that I didn’t have before.

I stopped taking myself so seriously, too. I started seeing my work in a new light, viewing it as an essential element in the business of glorifying God. Thinking with God. Seeing what God sees. Knowing what God knows. From that point on, work was handled so harmoniously that it was like watching musicians playing a symphony.

The headaches stopped, as well as the chest pains. There were no more sleepless nights. Joy and lightheartedness filled my days in the office. My Bible friends had helped to rescue me!

I can feel the peace of prayer anywhere

by Annette Bridges. © 2006. All rights reserved.

I love to pray sitting by the seashore. I have sat for hours enraptured by the vastness and infinity of the broad view. It’s something about the wideness of the sea and the constancy of the rolling waves that makes my soul sigh in contentment and quiets my mind in peaceful reflection.

I’ve often thought, “How can I take this peaceful feeling home with me? How can I go back home and find freedom from the stress of life’s chores and responsibilities?”

I’ve learned to take Christ Jesus’ words, “Enter into thy closet,” to heart.

In giving helpful instruction on how to pray, Jesus said, “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

With each breath I take, I feel wrapped in God’s love.

The seashore is a bit like my “closet.” I shut my eyes, not thinking about any troubles, fears or concerns. With each breath I take, I feel wrapped in God’s love. I hear the thunderous roar of waves crashing, and at the same time I feel the order and rhythmic peaceful pattern of the waves rolling in.

  • This reminds me of a stanza from a poem written by Mary Baker Eddy:

And o’er earth’s troubled, angry sea
I see Christ walk
And come to me, and tenderly
Divinely talk

I feel as if Christ Jesus has spoken to me and proclaimed peace. It’s as if a thought whispers to me, You are safe. You are not alone. You are whole. All is well. And when I open my eyes the problem, fear or concern that had been troubling me now seems very small, like a single grain of sand under my feet. There is clarity and there is calm.

But over the years, I’ve found the healing power of this prayer doesn’t require sitting by the sea. I can follow Christ Jesus’ prayer instructions wherever I am. And I have—whether I am working at my desk, sitting in a hospital waiting area, standing in line at the grocery store, or stuck in my car in a traffic jam. I enter into my closet, that quiet realm in thought where I know God’s presence and love is with me and is as constant as the rolling waves and as infinite as the inexhaustible waters of the sea. I talk with God and hear the healing words I need in that moment. Again and again, there is clarity, there is calm, there is peace.

I found I had the ideas I needed.

Sometimes I have hours to spend in my prayer closet. Other times I have only moments. I recall one time sitting at my desk working on an assignment deadline, feeling pressured and rattled about the deadline. In fact, the project slowed to a standstill the more I looked at the clock. I didn’t have hours, but I took a moment to enter into my prayer closet at that moment of frustration. The pressure completely disappeared and was replaced with calm inspiration. I found I had the ideas I needed to complete the project on schedule. These heartfelt, often momentary prayers are fail-proof.

Following Christ Jesus’ insightful prayer guidelines puts my troubles on pause. I’m reminded that Love, the Love that is God, is always with me—and not just by the seashore. With a calm thought, I’m able to find my peace again.

Post Election Day prayers

by Annette Bridges. © 2006. All rights reserved.

It was my first presidential election. And my candidate of choice lost the race.

I felt sad, mad—even dismayed that the majority of American citizens didn’t agree with me. I never imagined this outcome. In fact, I went to bed on Election Day with the conviction that my candidate was clearly superior. But many others disagreed with my viewpoint. They were wrong, I thought. And now the country is going to suffer for the mistaken views of the majority.

How do you feel when the candidate you voted for doesn’t win? How can you deal with your disappointment, anger and fear?

I’ve come to believe that voting provides us the opportunity to agree to disagree and respect each other’s differing opinions. However, patriotism and respect for the democratic process weren’t enough to help me deal with my post-election emotions, especially when my candidate lost. I found only prayer-filled conviction took me to a more centered place and gave me peace of mind. This conviction also showed me what next steps I could take to support social progress.

Divinely given rights are established for all.

My prayers affirmed there is a divine Power higher than the presidency—a Commander-in-Chief for humankind. This overarching Spirit has created a universe that runs on spiritual laws maintaining order and peace. These laws mandate that divinely given rights are established for all.

Mary Baker Eddy, the author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the book that inspires this Web site, wrote these words during the Spanish-American War: “Pray that the divine presence may still guide and bless our chief magistrate, those associated with his executive trust, and our national judiciary; give to our congress wisdom, and uphold our nation with the right arm of His righteousness.”

As I read these words again recently, I am finding this prayer as relevant today as it was in 1898. I’ve been praying about Election Day in the US this year—both before and after the fact.

A soldier’s wife talks about her prayers

United States, Great Britain, Japan, Canada, Australia and elsewhere have loved ones serving in the military in trouble spots around the world. This interview explores how the author’s daughter deals with the anxiety of having her husband serving in time of war. But any individual with a loved one in the military will recognize her concerns.

by Annette Bridges. ©2006.  All rights reserved.

Our daughter Jennifer married a little over two years ago, only six days before our son-in-law was to begin his Air Force training. In September 2005, his training completed, he left the country on his first overseas deployment. And our daughter came to stay with us.

In the hours we spend together, Jennifer and I talk about many things—her sweet husband, the spiritual ideas we are both learning from our study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy’s writings, and how the ideas are helping get her through the holiday season when her husband is so far from home. We thought it would be helpful to share these ideas with others.

I know you’ve understood from the day you married there would be months of deployment. How did you prepare yourself for being separated from your husband?

At first the thought of my husband being deployed paralyzed me and brought my fears to a peak. I began having nightmares. I felt a sadness I could not define. I was struggling with fears of dealing with death. I felt anxious, not just at the possible loss of my husband, but anxious about dealing with the death of any of my family members, whenever that might be.

The laws of God apply to every situation.
I believe there are laws of God applicable for any situation, and that surely these laws must be effective anywhere, anytime. But I was feeling like I didn’t have the tools I needed to put them into practice.

So I decided to take a class on Christian Science. I felt this class would teach me more about God and how to apply the laws of God in the Bible for myself and my family, and especially for my husband.

I’ve been learning to focus more on the present instead of worrying about the future. To move from dwelling on death to getting a better understanding of Life—God. The more I study, the more confident I become that through God we’re all connected to each other; that all things are possible with God.

“All things are possible to him that believeth.”

Christ Jesus gave us this promise: “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” This faith-inspired confidence has lessened my anxieties about separation from my husband. It’s given me a more certain hope.

How have you been praying about the idea of your husband being in a danger zone?

I affirm that he can never for one millisecond be separated from God. He’s always encompassed in God’s love. I know that whatever he is faced with, he’s protected. Paul’s words encourage my faith: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In my prayers, I affirm there’s nothing my husband can’t handle, because God is always there to guide him. He’ll have the clarity he needs and will be receptive to the ideas he needs to make the right decisions. And not only my husband, but also the entire crew on his plane. They will all make the right decisions to stay safe.

I don’t dwell on fear; I’ve found a peace.

Relying on God’s power and control have helped me overcome illnesses and other challenges in my life. Remembering these experiences, and reading about others’ healing and life-transforming experiences, increases my faith now and supports my peace. They give me reason to pray for my husband and trust in my prayers. So I don’t dwell on fear anymore. I’ve found a peace. As a military wife, you have to find your peace—whatever that means to you.

Sometimes you don’t hear from your husband for days. How do you deal with this?

I have to know, really know, he can’t be separated from God and trust in that. Sometimes my imagination can take over, but I keep my thoughts in control by knowing God is in control. Neither my husband’s life, nor mine, is governed by circumstance.

I’ve found great comfort from this statement of Mary Baker Eddy: “Understanding the control which Love held over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions’ den, and Paul proved the viper to be harmless.”

God is always guiding His children.

To be assured that God, Love, is always caring for and guiding His children, wherever they are, quiets needless fears. That assurance also brings me the peace that my husband can do his job—even though he may be in a dangerous situation—and still feel and be safe.

When you hear of others who are hurt or killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, how do you feel?

I empathize with what these families are going through. I want to tell them that God is right there with them and with their loved one.

I’ve imagined all too often how I would react if I received that dreaded news. Hearing about other soldiers being hurt or killed brings home this possibility. You’re forced to think about this possibility even before your husband deploys.

I believe in Christ Jesus’ promise of eternal life.

The military makes families plan how they want to receive this type of news. If I had to deal with the loss of my husband, the only thing that comforts me is knowing death is not the end of his life. I believe in Christ Jesus’ promise of eternal life. And in the promise and hope that I will see my husband again.

How do you maintain your joy at the holidays with your husband away?

All my life, my grandmother has quoted Christ Jesus’ words, “Your joy no man taketh from you.” That joy is God-given—it can’t be lost or taken away. That joy is powerful and healing.

So I’m cherishing the time I’m spending with family and friends. Taking comfort and joy in these precious moments. Especially with my grandparents. But I’m also making plans to celebrate Christmas when my husband returns. I’ve decorated our house on base for Christmas and will leave the decorations up for him. In fact, my parents and grandparents are leaving their decorations up, too! I shop and plan just like he is home because I know we will celebrate Christmas together when he returns.

We’re setting a place for my husband at our Christmas dinner table and will honor his life of service before we eat. And then we’ll have another holiday dinner when he returns.

Has this experience made you more compassionate toward other military families, including those from other nations?

I feel a close tie with other military families, wherever they’re from. I cherish the knowledge that there are other families that understand what I’m going through. Whether we consider people an ally or an enemy, the struggles and losses families go through are the same.

I’ve always loved remembering what Abram said to Lot as they peaceably ended the tensions between them: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.”

We’re all children of the same God.

No matter what is being fought for on either side, we’re all united in the brotherhood of humanity. We’re all children of the same God. Nothing can change that.

How is your husband dealing with being away from home? What has he shared with you?

It’s been a struggle at times. Life over there can become monotonous. It comforts him to know that I’m with my family and that we all love him. He values his experience as a lifetime learning opportunity. He is appreciating home more, even the little things. And he’s learning to not take things for granted.

Is there anything else you’d like to offer, particularly to other soldiers’ wives? Or to soldiers deployed or preparing for deployment?

My advice to other military wives would be to stay close to something you love a lot, whether it be family, a job, a hobby. Surround yourself with what gives you joy. But know you’re not alone. God is always with you. You can count on that.

To other soldiers deployed, I want to say, Know you’re appreciated. A lot of people back home value what you’re doing and are praying for your safe return.

God is there to protect you, wherever you are.

And if you’re a soldier preparing for deployment? You don’t have to be afraid. God will be with you to protect and guide you, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. The Bible gives you this promise: “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies . . . be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee.”

And to people everywhere in the world, including non-military families—Mrs. Eddy wrote an article titled “Prayer for Country and Church” in which she wrote, “In your peaceful homes remember our brave soldiers, whether in camp or in battle.”

And these words, from the same article, have become part of my daily prayer: “… may their love of country, and their faithful service thereof, be unto them life-preservers!”

Merry Christmas to my husband and to all soldiers in every part of the world! My mom and I are praying for your safe return to your families and homelands!