'God Loves Me'
Sometimes we find ourselves in such a personal crisis that we can't even think clearly. Emotions take control. At such times it may be hard to pray.
But there is something we can all do. We can quietly say - with conviction, "I am God's loved child." Just that. "I am God's loved child." Actually, this is the gospel truth. And to acknowledge it is a powerful form of prayer. It is potent to stop mental storms and lift thought to the spiritual fact of our residence in God's kingdom, where peace and joy reign supreme.
"I have loved thee with an everlasting love," is God's promise to us (Jer. 31:3). It is this God, divine Love, "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Ps. 103:3, 4).
We're never outside the immediate healing power of God's merciful love. Though struggles and troubles may come, we can turn to our heavenly Parent and find comfort, direction, and consolation that never cease.
"Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation," wrote Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (Pg. 332).
Difficult situations can teach us to walk more closely with God, day by day. They can actually prompt us to find out something wonderful: that as we consistently align our thoughts, words, and deeds with a clear understanding of God, we'll make choices according to His flawless wisdom. His purity. His strength and dominion. It's in expressing God, through qualities of goodness, that we experience His merciful, powerful guidance and justice.
Learning to think and act in Godlike ways, we can prevent sickness, sin, and suffering from coming into our lives. That's because when we've put up a spiritual defense, which is mighty, we receive only blessing.
It's no small thing to be loved by God! He is the creator and governor of man and the universe, and His government is good, is life-giving and peace-giving.
A friend of mine went through a painful, jarring divorce. She'd seldom worked outside the home, having raised four children, and now felt very much alone. But she was accustomed to turning to God daily. And she did so at this time. At first it was hard work for her to keep her thought focused on the truth that God's loving care was over her. It was hard not to feel sorry for herself, justify herself, be angry. But she knew enough to persist in prayer for resolution of these difficulties.
One day as she prayed, she remembered a Bible story about Joseph (see Gen., Chaps. 37-45). His jealous brothers throw him into a pit and abandon him, making it look like some wild animal has found and killed him. Some travelers discover Joseph and sell him into slavery in Egypt, where he becomes the second most powerful man. Throughout the ordeal, Joseph continues to act with rectitude, honesty, and forgiveness, demonstrating keen spiritual insight.
My friend felt she should try to act as Joseph had. She wanted to prove that through consistent prayer, she, too, could make progress in her life and be happy and fulfilled. And this is just what happened. In fact, I well remember visiting her in the city where she had found a good job. Looking out the window of her apartment, I could see a large billboard in the distance that encouraged people to soar to new heights.
"That is just what I'm going to do," she said. And she did.
To remember that God loves each of us, always, unconditionally, is to begin to realize how, with the recognition of His care for us, we can get through the toughest situation with spiritual dominion. In fact, we can gain strength in times of challenge. When difficulty causes us to discover God's love, we always learn valuable lessons.
When you're faced with a crisis, don't give up! Remember, God loves you. Listen to him. Be faithful, honest, courageous. As His child, you have spiritual qualities to express. They are from Him, and they can never be taken from you. God gives all good, and in finding this good you will be supported, corrected, and sustained. You can count on it!
