A best friend in God

One summer, during the early years of my life as a college student, I went abroad to live in England for two months. I was very happy to have the opportunity to travel, but at the beginning of my stay there I found it difficult to be separated from the affection and guidance of my family and friends who were back in France. And it was not easy to make decisions on my own. At the time, emails and cell phones that now help to lessen distances did not exist.

One evening, when I felt especially alone, I turned to God with all my heart for comfort. My prayer was simple and short. It consisted of acknowledging that God, infinite Love, wants only what’s good for me and for each one of His children, and He gives us only good. I realized that God, who is infinite and always present, does not know want or loneliness, and that I as His child, His complete manifestation, created in His likeness, could therefore not know them either.

The answer to my prayer was almost immediate. I suddenly felt a great peace. I thought I was alone in my apartment, which I shared with three young women whom I hardly knew. But suddenly there was a knock on my door, and one of them came in to ask if I wanted to have dinner with her. That marked the end of my feelings of loneliness for the rest of the time I spent in England. This healing showed me how effective is even an instant of spiritual awareness of God’s goodness and presence.

During the days that followed I discovered something wonderful, which made that stay abroad joyous and profitable, and still continues to benefit me. I realized that God, as my Father-Mother, is also our best friend. One of the hymns in the Christian Science Hymnal describes God as “the perfect Friend” (No. 263, verse 3).

I’ve learned that God’s love for each one of us is never limited, never changeable, but infinite, constant, and unconditional, responding to each one of our needs in just the right way. In all circumstances and at every moment, night and day, He embraces us in His divine tenderness and solicitude, whether we are aware of it or not. It is so comforting to discover that feeling isolated isn’t possible with the knowledge of God’s continued presence, His availability at all times, and His consistent willingness to answer any call because nothing is too difficult for Him.

During this time I also became more aware of how I could talk to God any time. In the book of Jeremiah, in the Bible, I found these divine words: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee.” That’s when I discovered the importance of listening for God’s answers—His divine inspirations that come to us in prayer—and of obeying them with humility and trust. Since then, it’s become my habit, before making any decision, to turn to God, the infinite, all-knowing intelligence. God infallibly guides each one of His children by giving them all they truly need.

The Bible gives numerous examples that illustrate God’s undeniable government in the life of humanity. The Psalmist expressed his certainty of God’s constant and sure guidance in this way: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

Wherever an individual may find himself or herself, divine Love illuminates the path with angel-thoughts, or spiritually guiding thoughts. These divine intuitions manifest His power, neutralizing all that is inharmonious in our experience and revealing the allness of our Creator.

Since that moment when I realized that God, infinite Spirit, is always present and always available, I have continued to entrust myself to Him, whatever situation I’ve had to face. Whether the challenge has been an illness, a professional difficulty, or a human conflict, God has been my constant and effective help. As the Bible says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

God, or divine Mind, is supreme, not only in spiritual terms, but in human experience. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Mary Baker Eddy explained, “Mortal mind is the worst foe of the body, while divine Mind is its best friend.” The spirit underlying this truth was evident to me one day when I witnessed a beautiful healing.

A member of my family suddenly developed a serious eye problem. As she’d seen numerous proofs of the effectiveness of prayer in Christian Science, this relative naturally turned to God for healing. She also asked for metaphysical treatment from a Christian Science friend. Together, they prayed for three days, almost night and day. I prayed as well.

My prayer helped me become really conscious of the fact that disease is not in matter, but only in mortal thought, or mortal mind, and is therefore just a mental suggestion that we can refuse. This prayer dissolved the fear I’d been feeling, and my relative was soon healed. The interesting thing about this was that she recovered very quickly, once the idea clearly took hold that her health belonged to divine Mind. After that, she had very good eyesight, even at an advanced age. God is indeed the only source of our health, and He always maintains it.

The truth that God is our best friend is truly practical and demonstrable. It manifests itself also in beautiful and faithful friendships. In fact, we cannot lack affection, because divine Love is reflected constantly in our love for others.

Since that time, I’ve often marveled at the fact that, during difficult times when I’ve felt discouraged, friends who did not know of my need for comfort felt impelled by God to reach out to me and share with me thoughts of truth that strengthened me and freed me.

I myself have also obeyed the small voice of Truth encouraging me to reach out to someone. And many times I’ve discovered that this individual I spoke to had a great need of help that I was then able to offer with joy. True love, which recognizes the spiritual and perfect nature of man, is never personal, because it comes from God and manifests His power.

It’s very comforting to know that God loves without interruption, and our relationship, indeed our oneness, with Him is permanent and eternal.

Anne-Françoise Bouffé is a Christian Science practitioner and teacher who lives in Clamart, France.

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