Facing what we fear

Have you ever noticed how the things we may least want to face turn out to be the exact things that help us grow the most?

Even with the best intentions, we can sometimes find ourselves attempting to use prayer to avoid something difficult. And yet, scientifically approached prayer as described in Christian Science brings things to the surface to be dealt with and resolved. It gives us the courage to face down whatever might seem impossibly hard to deal with, so we can move forward.

This prayer holds us to a high standard. It is much more than just wishing or hoping that something will change – or, that something which needs to change will stay the same. Prayer that yields our thinking to the divine power brings a shift in thought, transforming us and equipping us to face challenges with an absolute confidence in the all-power of good from God – infinite Spirit, Love.

Christian Science identifies this transformative healing activity of Love as the Christ – “the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness” (Mary Baker Eddy, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 332). When we feel this influence, “ever present in human consciousness” (Science and Health, p. xi), we find ourselves naturally acting like the spiritual expression of Love we are. Where previously we might have felt too anxious to do or say something, we are suddenly impelled to act with a divine conviction, without analyzing or overthinking. And the result is healing.

If we are ever tempted to try to avoid an experience we believe might be uncomfortable, cultivating a desire to love, by being willing to listen to Love and feel Love’s presence, turns thought to the Christ and gives us courage beyond our own will. We can face up to the things that feel so daunting. The Christ impels us to live from Love and gives us a heartfelt conviction that we can go forward.

Just determinedly pushing through something we are dreading, however, is not leaning on the perfect Love that casts out our fear (see I John 4:18), nor is it bringing us to a new place spiritually. But when we think and act from the greater, more expansive perspective that divine Love provides, it is transformative.

In the longest conversation Jesus had that’s recorded in the Bible, we find him interacting with a Samaritan woman at a well (see John 4:5-30, 39-42). Many things are unusual about this story, not the least of which is that the woman goes to the well around midday – the hottest time of day. This suggests that she was an outcast in her society, and that she may have wanted to avoid social interaction and the discomfort that might have accompanied it.

Yet, as Jesus was constantly, consciously one with Love, he saw her in the light of pure, ever-present goodness. And the actions this impelled in her illustrate how yielding to Christ gives us the courage to take on things we wouldn’t otherwise do.

Despite it being unacceptable in that society for a man and an unaccompanied woman to interact, Jesus spoke to the woman and asked her to give him water. She didn’t run in the other direction. She stayed, and her encounter with Christ Jesus transformed not only her but many other people in her city as well. Loosed from anxiety by the Love Jesus reflected, she didn’t hesitate to share with all who would listen that the Messiah had come. “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” she said.

When we feel the influence of Christ, the divine idea of God that impelled Jesus’ words and actions, it changes us. We can’t help but speak or act from our heart, even when it goes against convention. We are grounded in the very foundation of the good that is God. We trust in what is good and right, and experience healing.

In the Old Testament, Moses encourages the people to “be strong and of a good courage” (Deuteronomy 31:6) and later, God repeats this counsel to Joshua as the Israelites are preparing to go forward into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:6, 9). In each instance, these words are related to taking action. Turning to the goodness of God and seeing our own Godlikeness and that of others enables us, through Christ, to face up to fear, act, and find blessings.

Adapted from an editorial published in the Dec. 5, 2022, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.