Finding angels

Have you ever been in a situation where there seemed to be no solution? Where human help was unavailing? Have you wished you could just run away? Elijah, the Old Testament prophet, must have felt like that when Jezebel, the queen, announced she was going to have him killed. He fled into the wilderness in great despair, sat under a juniper tree, and fell asleep.

Then, right where he was, in the depths of despair, he felt God's presence. An angel wakened him, directed him to eat, and sent him on his way to fulfill his mission.n1

n1 See I Kings 19:1-8

We may naturally find ourselves wanting to escape troubles assailing us, such as sickness, loss, indecision. We may feel separated from all sense of direction and happiness. But like Elijah, we can find an angel, a message from God, waiting to bless us. God will never withdraw His love from us or leave us defenseless.

Jeremiah felt this love: ''The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea , I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.''n2 The omnipotent creator has loved us from the very beginning.

n2 Jeremiah 31:3

When we are feeling loved by God, we are especially receptive to angels. These angels may appear in various forms, such as the kind motive of a friend giving needed help, or the unselfish impulse of a stranger offering assistance. Often they appear as our own loftier thoughts, melting away resentment, bringing forgiveness, or inspiring compassion.

Angels are not feathery beings. ''Angels are pure thoughts from God, winged with Truth and Love, no matter what their individualism may be,'' writes Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. And she says further along, ''Angels are God's representatives.''n3

n3 Science and Health with key to the Scriptures,m pp.298-299

Through the years I have turned to God and experienced the influence of His angels. During exams, answers have come to thought; career opportunities have appeared; housing has been located. I have found freedom from pain.

As God's spiritual offspring, man expresses His harmonious nature and the goodness emanating from Him. When our thinking is exalted and purified through prayer, we are blessed by angels that confirm this truth, bringing release from trouble.

God is our Maker and defender. We are cradled in His love, eternally. God's power is indisputable. His intelligence is supreme. He desires and provides only good for His children. Acknowledging these spiritual facts is a form of prayer, which makes us receptive to His healing, guiding thoughts.

A number of years ago I found myself in a situation requiring angelic assistance. I was in Hong Kong with my mother, and the day before we were to sail home, she lost her passport.

We reported the loss and found that getting a new passport would be a lengthy process. Without a passport my mother could not leave.

Things looked hopeless. Anxiety and despair momentarily overwhelmed us, until we remembered these lines from a hymn: He knows the angels that you need, And sends them to your side,

To comfort, guard and guide.n4

n4 Christian Science Hymnal, No. 9m

We knew that no situation was beyond God's control. We were not lost from God , and good could not be lost by us. Thousands of miles from home we still were under God's jurisdiction.

We expressed gratitude for a God who never withdraws His love and protection. We knew we were being cared for continuously. We were confident that only good could come to us.

Two hours before we were supposed to sail, there was a knock at our hotel door. We met a distinguished Chinese gentleman, holding in his hand a grimy, tire-marked passport. It was my mother's.

He told us, ''I found it as I was crossing the street this morning on my way to my office.'' He had taken it immediately to the American Embassy, where he was directed to our hotel. Had he delayed a couple of hours, we would have missed our sailing.

What joy and gratitude we felt as we sailed out of that beautiful Hong Kong harbor. We had companioned with angels and were cared for. Daily Bible Verse The Lord . . .will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way. Genesis 24:40