When folks are working on a healing for a long time, they might think about past healings they’ve had in Christian Science as a way of being grateful, of reassuring themselves of the power of God, and of bolstering their courage to continue the fight against the error that has engulfed their thinking.  No problem there unless they’re relying on the past rather than looking forward to what they need to understand now.

At such times, however, error may suggest “Yes, that really was a remarkable healing you had, but…” and then go on to remind the individual:

1. how long the current problem has been going on;
2. how hard they’ve been working on it; and
3. how often they’ve prayed, etc. and yet without any apparent results!

If any of this sounds familiar, you need to be alert to this undermining and harmful methodology of the carnal mind—of evil.

Why?

Because if we’re not awake to how error operates, we’re very likely to be taken in by its lies, and delay the healing we deserve.

So let’s examine this two-fold “Yes, but” tactic closely!

The “but” part of the suggestion is really nothing other than a disagreement designed to engender a sense of futility and hopelessness in the individual—a “what’s the point” mentality to entice them to abandon their reliance on Christian Science and choose material means and methods instead or to resign themselves to their “fate.”  Obviously, not good!

However, it’s the first part—the “Yes” section—that is perhaps the more subtle aspect of the serpent’s suggestion—the one we really need to be awake to!

Evil may appear to acknowledge previous healings, but it can never do so because it’s against its very “nature” to agree with anything that’s true!  It’s a deceitful trap laid to draw us into accepting the “but”—the disagreement portion—by seeking to mesmerize us into believing that mortal mind’s conclusion is perfectly “reasonable.”  It would suggest—as our own observation—that we’ve given it our best shot, that the current situation’s just too tough, and now we need to rationally look elsewhere—to material means and methods.

This lie would have us turn from our one and only Creator—in whom we live and move and have our being.  In whom is our only real source of health, holiness, and harmony.  In whom alone is our salvation!

To be sure, this is the individual’s personal choice, but shouldn’t we be awake to the falsity of this utterly wrong-headed premise, conclusion, and influence?

Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves if we really have “given it our best shot”?  Have we deeply examined our thoughts and perceptions to see what is of God and what is of the carnal mind?  Are we truly willing to let go of cherished concepts that may be holding us back—concepts that even at one time may have appeared to be comforting but which are not truly of the Comforter?

Mary Baker Eddy included in a letter to a Branch Church the following (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 154):

Pray without ceasing. Watch diligently; never desert the post of spiritual observation and self-examination. Strive for self-abnegation, justice, meekness, mercy, purity, love. Let your light reflect Light. Have no ambition, affection, nor aim apart from holiness. Forget not for a moment, that God is All-in-all — therefore, that in reality there is but one cause and effect.

In light of these admonitions, can we honestly say we’ve done our best?

There is no room for “yes, buts” here!