Many years ago, I began experiencing symptoms in my legs and feet that made walking difficult. In my study of Christian Science, I had learned that God is the true source of our capabilities, so I leaned on God to enable me to carry on with my duties as a schoolteacher and a mother of young children.

These words of the prophet Isaiah gave me strength: “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13).

I knew that healing is really an “inside job” requiring receptivity to inspiration and a willingness to elevate thought to divine consciousness. With the help of a Christian Science practitioner, I prayed daily to overcome fear by understanding that God is All and “there is none else beside him” (Deuteronomy 4:35).

The healing did not come quickly. Some days were better than others, but I persevered, knowing that no matter how long it took, healing was inevitable. I saw this challenge as an opportunity for spiritual growth and each activity as an occasion to demonstrate the answer to the question, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). Whenever I felt frustrated, I knew that discouragement was not truly my thinking, since man’s thoughts are the expression of divine Mind and always affirm the presence and power of infinite good.

At one point, when I began to think I might have to end my teaching career, I won a state teaching award for excellence. This was quite an honor, but it required me to work one week during the summer for the state department of education, design a teaching packet, and teach numerous workshops to other teachers. I wondered how I could ever meet these requirements, as well as walk across the stage to receive my award. Feeling stuck and fearful, I prayed earnestly to know how to proceed.

That summer, with prayer and persistence, I was able to complete the requirements. But some family members and friends were worried about my health and urged me to seek a medical diagnosis. Reluctantly I agreed, and the physician who examined me diagnosed the condition as multiple sclerosis. He told me there was no treatment for it.

“Stay with your religion,” he said, “for by the time medical help is available, you will be healed.” Then he referred me to a neurologist, who gave me another examination and directed me to take a test. I went to the testing site, but after further thought I decided not to take the test. I realized I did not want a material record labeling me with an incurable disease, because I knew in my heart that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

On the ride home, I recalled the healing of Jairus’ daughter, of whom Christ Jesus said, “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke 8:50). I realized that Jesus never referred to her as dying or dead; he said that she was sleeping. This helped me see the crucial point that the problem wasn’t with her body—or with mine. Rather, it was thought that needed to be spiritually awakened to the fact that divine Mind governs each of us and is the real source of life and movement.

When I arrived home, I phoned the practitioner, who spoke to me lovingly and with steadfast conviction that I would be healed. I remember her quoting this passage from the Bible: “The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Habakkuk 3:19).

As I yielded to divine Spirit with complete trust, in that moment I became conscious of my real identity as God’s reflection, perfect and whole.

That was a turning point. Over the next few weeks my legs became stronger. My feet, which had turned inward, began to flatten. Mobility became easier, and by September of that year all the symptoms were gone. I was able to walk across the stage to accept my teaching award. My healing was complete, and I continued teaching school for another three decades.

Beverly Wood Coyle
Vienna, Virginia, US

I witnessed my mother’s healing as she describes. There were many ups and downs, but knowing that there was no medical treatment available for MS only strengthened our family’s reliance on Christian Science. This supported my mother as she reversed the devastating verdict by turning wholeheartedly to God. At one point I watched my mom go from crawling to walking as a result of prayer. A few weeks later, our family did a five-mile hike throughout New York City. Her experience indeed proves that there is nothing too hard for the Lord.

Caitlin Coyle Reidway
Waxhaw, North Carolina, US