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Gaining freedom from fear of disease

A Christian Science perspective: Acknowledging the spiritual fact of divine Love’s supreme power and presence can bring protection from disease and freedom from fear of it.

  • By Deborah Huebsch

My husband and I were anticipating a trip to some very remote islands, but there was one big problem: There were reports of a particular disease that was endemic in the area. I was terrified of contracting this disease, which is sometimes fatal.

I felt it was important to deal with this fear, which I knew was not helpful. This Bible statement helped: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18). Perfect, according to one dictionary definition, means “exactly fitting the need in a certain situation.” Love is a name for Deity. So it makes sense that perfect Love refers to God, infinite Love, whose presence and power are able to fit – to meet – the need exactly.

My need was to more clearly see that God is more powerful than anything that would cause harm. I had learned in my study of Christian Science that God is omnipresent. Divine Love fills all space. The true, spiritual universe consists of God and His creation, including us, and is entirely good.

So even where it seems that dangerous pathogens lurk, we can turn with absolute confidence to God in prayer for protection and healing. We can listen for and consciously entertain the facts about God, such as the omnipresence of divine Love. I’ve found this passage in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Monitor founder Mary Baker Eddy, helpful: “To enter into the heart of prayer, the door of the erring senses must be closed. Lips must be mute and materialism silent, that man may have audience with Spirit, the divine Principle, Love, which destroys all error” (p. 15).

By getting mentally quiet and opening our thought to divine Love, we can feel the incredible presence of God’s love, and fear disappears. Does God know about things like disease and then act to get rid of them? No, it’s like harmony in music. Once a wrong chord is replaced by the correct one, harmony is expressed. Harmony does not “know” discord, it can only express itself. Fear is discord, and our awareness of the supremacy of divine Love replaces the fear.

What a relief! Each day of the trip I consciously opened my thought to Love’s presence. Gradually the fear lessened until I was completely free. In the three weeks my husband and I were there, we didn’t contract the disease, nor did any symptoms appear after returning home. I was filled with joy and gratitude for God’s love.

Whether a threat seems large or small, and wherever it may be, acknowledging the spiritual fact of divine Love’s supreme power and presence can free us from fear – and bring protection from disease. What a wonderful promise!

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