Ilia Delio, in her book The Not-Yet God, describes God as an evolving presence, deeply enmeshed in creation—not controlling it from afar, but co-creating within it. Evolution is not passive; it is participatory. That means we are being called to participate in this transformation, not just observe it.

Dr. Ernest Holmes, founder of Religious Science, author, and mystic, wrote: “The world is evolving from imperfection to perfection. It is moving from incompleteness to completeness.”

When I studied the Science of Mind, I was taught that God, the Inner Presence, was Perfect Wholeness. It was something I aspired to embody in my life. I understood the healing process as the act of aligning with and embodying that perfection or wholeness.

As I read Delio’s book, my understanding of God is once again expanding. As I truly contemplate it, I realize it is not contrary to my Science of Mind concept of the Presence or Power I call God or Spirit. Since we can only know God through our own perception, it makes sense that God is evolving through us. The Power Itself is limitless, but because we are finite thinkers, it appears finite to us. We cannot demonstrate life beyond our perception of this Power and its capabilities. We remain stuck until we break through to a higher level of consciousness.

Perhaps this is what we mean when we talk about the evolution of consciousness. We are not becoming a greater God—we are experiencing a greater understanding of God and Its limitlessness.

God expresses through Its creation; otherwise, It remains waves of limitless potentiality. The question is: What happens when a human being, like Jesus, fully embodies It? He is limitless. He is caught up in another dimension. I believe this is true. I believe there is much we cannot see simply because we do not yet have the spiritual eyes to see it. We are caught in the 3D world and its limitations, resolving life matter to matter rather than through higher consciousness.

So, is God evolving within each of us? And why is it important to know this? This truth inspires me to lift myself up into a higher consciousness. It inspires me because I understand that as I embrace my unlimited potential and leave behind limitations, I glorify this Power through and as me.

The Presence of God in a World of Pain

So why is there evil in the world? And is God still moving through everything, even in pain and violence?God doesn’t leave Its creation—because God is Its creation. To the level of our understanding, God and matter are one. Just because I do not recognize the Power does not mean it isn’t there. There would be no creation without God—without Infinite Potentiality.

Here’s how I understand it: Spirit, Energy, Source, or God—whatever we call this Power—is always at choice. Ernest Holmes said: “There is One Life, that Life is God’s Life, that Life is perfect, that Life is my life now.”

God expresses Itself at the level of our understanding. That is Its Law. It is Consciousness expressing through matter. Yes, God is evolving because consciousness is evolving. We are, right now, in the process of conscious evolution. Evolution is the effect of consciousness rising to greater and greater levels of love—love being the cosmic force that moves consciousness toward higher levels of being.

What does this mean for all of us? It makes me want to get to work. I am responsible for the evolution of consciousness. The more I am in tune with love and my limitless potential, the more consciousness evolves through me. And when enough of us understand and practice love—through our thoughts and actions—we will reach a tipping point. There will be a shift. I used to think the shift had already happened. And perhaps, for some, it has. But the total shift will not take place until enough of us get onboard.

God is waiting on us. This is what Jesus meant when he said: “Greater things than this will you do.” He knew that consciousness is always evolving toward greater expressions of itself.

All I can say is: Let’s get to work. If we don’t like what’s happening in the world right now, it is our responsibility to raise our own consciousness, rather than lowering ourselves to the consciousness of the world.

Staying Tuned,

Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author and Co-Founding Director CSL Kaua`i and the Institute of Magnificence