(Lydia) I quoted a lot of scriptures growing up. Sometimes that seemed our last defense against the Communist government of Romania determined to break the spirits of Christians. My father is a Baptist pastor and he and my mother encouraged us to learn Bible verses and claim the promises God gave us in the Bible.
I stood firm in my trust in God all those years. I thought nothing could shake my confidence in God. But the biggest assault on my faith didn't come from the secret police or being denied basic rights in Romania because I confessed Jesus. That happened in a hospital in California when our second child, Becky, was born with a severe birth defect.
In a matter of minutes all those treasured scriptures, all that persecution-tempered faith, turned to bitterness. I am so glad that God- and the doctors- didn't answer my prayers on Sept 30, 1987. Because I prayed for my newborn daugher to die rather than live in that condition. I couldn't belive that God was punishing me- and Becky.
I still remembered the words to all those scriptures- but they didn't have any power anymore.
But before I tell you how God did a miracle of healing- not physical healing because, 18 years later Becky is still confined to a wheelchair, but a healing of my heart-and how that healing is now touching, the disabled of Romania I want you to hear Becky quote her favorite scripture.