In telling his disciples about conditions that would come to pass, Christ Jesus spoke of "men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:26).
Many people these days, observing present world conditionals, may be ready to conclude that these days must surely be upon us. They feel afraid, overwhelmed. Many lose heart
This, however, is the thing one should not do when faced with disheartening circumstances. When Jesus warned men of eventual upheaval, he also offered a way of escape. "When these things begin to come to pass," he counseled, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" *Luke 21:28).
Our redemption or salvation from fear and deep discouragement can come as soon as we progress in our understanding of God' government of man and His universe. To those in search of renewed hope and courage Christian Science offers this view of reality: man and the universe spiritually created. It shows one how to indeed look up, through enlightened prayer, to find God's ever-present, redeeming help Through the study and application of Christian Science, countless individuals the word over have found that there is no problem too overwhelming for God to solve.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 390): "It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony." Problems seem hopeless only if we think of man as separated from God, left to fend for himself in a material, somewhat mysterious universe controlled by amoral forces. But Christian Science teaches that man is spiritual, perfect, the expression of God, inseparable from God, loved by God, protected by God, secure in God. And the same spiritual laws that empowered Jesus to heal and regenerate men are available to all mankind.
The basis of Jesus' unfailing ability to subdue difficulties of every description was his practical understanding of divine law, his consciousness of man's spiritual relationship to God. God, good governs all things harmoniously, and the divine government is reflected in our daily lives. When we realize that the divine Mind is continuously maintaining all in harmony and perfection, we can begin to see that there is no hopeless condition, no insoluble problem.
Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health" (p. 393): "Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs and that in Science man reflects God's government." A knowledge of this keeps hope and enthusiasm intact, lifted above distressing material conditions. There is never any need to feel overwhelmed, for God, good, is the only reality.
