Goodness and mercy

What is the next step? What will happen if you really move forward/upward? Will the next step be successful? Can we be sure that the next step will be o.k.? Should we say "yes" to the proposed move/job/assignment - or no? Is something good waiting for you? Is light coming your way?

These questions and many more are part of the lives of many of us, every day. Big decisions or small decisions. Decisions that move us into one direction - or another. We are unsure what to do. Or we are even unsure whether something good is waiting for us. 

We are not alone. There is powerful support from Mary Baker Eddy - and from the Bible for us. There is guidance and inspiration for us. And here it comes.

In Miscellaneous Writings Mary Baker Eddy writes:

"Two individuals, with all the goodness of generous natures, advise me. One says, Go this way; the other says, Take the opposite direction! Between the two I stand still; or, accepting the premonition of one of them, I follow his counsel, take a few steps, then halt. A true sense not unfamiliar has been awakened. I see the way now. The guardians of His presence go before me. I enter the path."
(Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 347:14)

This paragraph has been a help to me countless times and it can be to you, too. We can wait on God, truly wait for this "true sense not unfamiliar" to be present in us and move us forward. Spiritual sense tells us that here is always one logical step ahead of us. Always. And that this is so because we are linked to divine Mind, the intelligence of the universe. Intelligence is among other things the ability to acquire and apply knowledge, and this ability is always where God is. God is intelligence, the only real consciousness there is. When you acquire or apply knowledge you analyse and you link individual ideas in a constructive way, and that is what Mind is doing all the time. The divine consciousness is applying the knowledge about itself in infinite ways, very concrete and tangible ways, always. Eternally, without one moment of interruption.

Now when you see this step and you have this sense what the one next step is, there might be still a question mark. What will happen if I do this step - most often this mental step? There is additional comfort and encouragement coming from the Bible:

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (from Psalm 23. NKJV)

It means something that goodness and mercy follow us - they walk behind us, so closely that you can feel their breath and sweet perfume. They are safeguarding you, validating you and protecting you. You are always safe as you move forward.

So, safety and joy and clarity are around you and within you. One intelligent next step is right where you are... and while you take this step, goodness and mercy are safeguarding you. They are saying: You cannot make any mistakes, because we are here. We are behind you.

They are also conveying this message, that the only mistake you can ever make is: not to move forward at all, that is, not to follow God's lead. Because goodness and mercy follow you - they don't stand around waiting. Goodness and mercy are on the move, they are following you--- always. So get going. You can't make mistakes.