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, observing present world conditions, may be ready to conclude that these days must surely be upon us. They feel overwhelmed at times. They say, "What next?! 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)
One's redemption or salvation from fear and despair can come as soon as one progresses in his understanding of God's government of man and the 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, comforting help. Through the study and application of Christian Science, countless individuals the world over have found and are finding 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 (page 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 find 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 enabled Jesus to heal and regenerate men are available to everyone today.
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 spiritual harmony and perfection, we can begin to see there is no hopeless condition out there, no insoluble problem, no need to feel overwhelmed by world events.
Knowing that all-powerful God is govern His creation keeps hope and confidence intact, lifted above distressing material conditions. There is never any need to despair, for God is the only reality.
