Testimony of Healing

In Awe of God's Power

In the summer of 1990, I became aware of a small hard lump in my lower abdomen. It was not uncomfortable, but at times it would concern me. At various times, I asked different Christian Science practitioners to help me pray about it. I knew it needed to be healed, but I didn't always pay much attention to it.

Over a period of about ten years, the lump grew, and I began to experience discomfort and lack of energy, to the point that I could no longer easily lie on my stomach. Ready to dedicate myself to praying for a complete healing, I called a practitioner in 2000 and said I wanted to rely totally on Christian Science. We prayed daily together for about a year to understand my relationship with God.

During that time, I learned so much about my spiritual identity. "Man is idea," wrote Mary Baker Eddy, "the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas ... " (Science and Health, p. 475). I reasoned that if I was a spiritual idea, "including all right ideas," then I could not possibly include anything material or harmful. I knew that as I became convinced of God's goodness and the fact that my identity was actually the embodiment of every good, Godlike quality, then I would lose the belief about myself as separate from Him—and as having any harmful condition. In September 2001, I was on vacation in Boston. One afternoon I walked by the Christian Science Plaza and saw a little girl playing in the fountain there. As her mother looked on, she squealed with delight. I was so taken with her innocence and obvious freedom from the fear and sadness that was so widespread in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that had just occurred. And I wanted more than anything to feel the childlike freedom and joy that seemed so effortless for her.

Then I thought of this statement in Science and Health: "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony" (pp. 323-324). Right then and there, I decided that I was willing to become "as a little child." I was willing to accept as true only what came from my Father-Mother God. And I knew that anything else amounted to a misconception of what actually had control over me.

The next day I attended the Wednesday noon testimony meeting in The Mother Church. The readings from the Bible began with, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:21), and included this from Science and Health: "At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good." (p. 571). The readings seemed to embrace the whole world in the infinite power of God, divine Love, to overcome evil — and I felt that Love embracing me.

Every testimony of healing that followed was for me a clear and convincing proof of God's love for His creation, of the absolute nothingness of evil, and its powerlessness to destroy good. Everyone who spoke told about declaring the truth of God's love right in the face of discord: a migraine headache, purse-snatching, attack by a gang, and being buried in sand. All had experienced quick healing and resolution. Each testimony was further proof to me that the law of God, who is Love itself, destroys all evil.

After the service, I sat in the pew and thought about all that I had heard. I was in awe of the infinite power of God to heal any pain or disorder, no matter how aggressive or frightening—including the lump in my abdomen. I felt convinced that anger, violence, and sickness were powerless to touch me or anyone. I was sure, too, that nothing was real but God and His spiritual goodness, and I held to this conviction throughout the rest of my trip. I kept my thought on God as much as possible. Anything unlike good became uninteresting and unreal to me.

A few weeks after my return home, I realized the growth had completely disappeared. The practitioner and I rejoiced over God's unfailing grace. That was five years ago, and this healing remains permanent. It is irrefutable evidence to me that God is good, that He is All-in-all, and that there is no other power or presence.

Eleanor Askey Bigbie
Ferndale, Washington

Reprinted with permission from the Christian Science Sentinel July 10, 2006, page 24
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