'We Have All We Need'
FOUR of us--three adults and one child--were on a lake in the mountains of northern Maine in the United States. We had taken a rented motorboat into a remote inlet to see moose. After watching one feeding for a while, we were ready to head back to our cabin, but the boat's motor wouldn't start.
At this particular moment, a number of things happened. The child, who was unaccustomed to boats, became frantic with fear, the wind picked up, and clouds began to roll in. Sitting in the bow by myself, I began to pray. Oddly enough, the thought that came to me was ''We have all we need.''
That wasn't exactly the thought I'd expected God to give me. But I did recognize it as a reminder that man is actually spiritual and includes all the spiritual qualities God gives him. Among these are intelligence, peace, strength, and goodness. This assured me that we had the specific spiritual resources that would help us solve this problem. I knew that by turning to God for inspiration, we would find our way.
At that moment, my two adult companions told me there were oars under their seats. They decided to join forces, each taking an oar, and to row us back to the cabin. Once we started moving, the child calmed down somewhat. While I served as their navigator, I continued to affirm in thought that God is truly our ever-present help.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, depended on God's help throughout her life. So in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, she writes with both experience and authority when she says, ''Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demonstrated the divine power to heal only for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good'' (p. 494).
As we rowed slowly toward the cabins, it was obvious that a storm was coming. It was also clear that we would not be able to control the boat very well if the waves got much higher. I couldn't help recalling Christ Jesus' ability to calm a storm at sea with the simple words ''Peace, be still'' (Mark 4:39).
As I pondered this, I realized that Jesus knew God not only as an all-loving Father but also as the governor of the universe. From this standpoint, Jesus knew that good is the only true force in the universe. He proved that no other power exists to oppose God.
Right about that time, one of the rowers called out, ''I hear a motor!'' I scanned the distance with my binoculars and, sure enough, a boat was heading toward us, making good speed over the waves. It was one of the owners of the property where we were staying. Within minutes he had lashed our boat to his, and we were heading back. He told us that he had suddenly realized that we hadn't returned, and he had decided to check on us. We walked into our cabin at the exact moment that the storm broke!
Whether we are on a business or a pleasure trip, or at home, each of us can trust that God will provide ''all we need'' at every moment. As his spiritual offspring, we are each worthy of His love and His care. We experience God's guidance as we turn to Him and trust our lives to His direction.
When we make a practice of praying for His guidance, and obeying it, we discover that harmony and peace become far more common in our lives than discord and trouble. In addition, such prayer helps us to see our real, spiritual nature and to understand that we can never be cut off from our loving Father. Jesus' ministry proved this for us all. Trust in the spiritual qualities each of us has truly supplies us with all we need.
Over many years, and in all kinds of circumstances, I've always been grateful that although I might go on vacation, God doesn't! He is always available for any of us when we turn to Him in prayer. In fact, we can never be separated from Him.
God shall supply all your need
according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
