Some years ago, when I worked in television news, I began to have trouble recording the narration to my news reports. My voice crept up the register to a higher-than-normal pitch. Soon it began to seize when I tried to record narration, when I taped “stand-ups” on camera, and sometimes even when I talked on the phone. After a while, the problem became nearly constant.
At first, I wanted to hide under the bed. But I had begun studying Christian Science a few years earlier, and had recently taken Primary class instruction in Christian Science. I decided this was an opportunity to test what I was learning about healing.
My prayer brought some breakthroughs early on. One night, as I was praying in bed and reading the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, I felt the power of God’s love filling my consciousness. It felt almost like a physical presence, and enormously reassuring. And it was exactly what I needed.
On another occasion, I had stayed at work late to tape a voice track, and things were not going well. I was unable to record it to anywhere near my satisfaction. Tears of frustration flowed as I drove home. Then I had a sudden, overwhelming urge to return to the station and try again. When the feeling persisted, I realized it was the “still small voice” of God speaking to me (I Kings 19:12). So I got off the freeway at the nearest exit and returned to the station. I taped the narration almost perfectly. And I knew if this could happen once, I could be permanently healed.
These experiences were of great help to me. However, my voice continued to get worse overall, and I decided to leave the station, trusting that God would provide a way to support my young family. We experienced many instances of God’s continuing protection and provision for us. As Mrs. Eddy wrote in Science and Health, “When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously, He directs our path” (p. 254).
I asked several Christian Science practitioners to pray for me at different times. I also studied what the Bible has to say about the voice of God. “The God of glory thundereth,” said the Psalmist. And, “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Ps. 29:3, 4). I knew that as the reflection of God, I expressed this voice of Truth, which meant that my ability to communicate was also powerful.
And there was also this command in Isaiah that I strove to follow: “O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” (40:9). To me, that was a promise that I had the right to use my voice freely—without fear or impediment of any kind—because speech is a natural part of man’s God-provided ability.
Three of the four Gospels report that Jesus healed people who were completely unable to speak. I knew that God’s law is unchanging, and that if Jesus healed speechlessness, the same divine law that was at work then was available to me today.
The next couple of years weren’t easy. At one point, I decided it would be best to seek a medical diagnosis. But I never followed through because I felt so compelled to rely on God for healing. I wanted to prove—in the “laboratory” of my own life—that Christian Science, God’s law, really works.
I did my best to follow this instruction in Science and Health: “We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being” (p. 264). In fact, I believe my willingness to do this was key to my progress. I did my best not to give in to discouragement (this healing took a period of years to complete). And as I refused to accept limitations (because God didn’t impose them), I found those limitations falling away.
For example, I wrote stories and sold ads for a local business paper. After one presentation I gave, someone in the audience told me he knew how hard it must be to get up in front of a group of people with the challenges I was having. But he said what had come through to him was my message—and my perseverance.
I also gave regular testimonies at Wednesday night meetings at my Christian Science branch church. Support from my fellow church members was very helpful; they steadfastly refused to see (or hear) me as anything but God’s image and likeness.
I accepted an appointment as the church’s Assistant Sunday School Superintendent. Although at first it was not easy to project from the podium during the services, as the weeks passed, my voice got stronger and stronger, until some time later it was strong and clear again.
It has been more than a decade now since I fully regained my voice. Since then, I’ve enjoyed several satisfying positions as an employee communicator and consultant—a career that just naturally fell into place as I listened for God’s direction. I’ve once again hosted radio shows, narrated video programs, and given many presentations to large groups of people.
A few years ago, I concluded a three-year term as Second Reader in my branch church. Now I’ve begun a term as First Reader. How could I not express my gratitude through this activity, when God has so graciously and completely blessed me with healing?
I’ve learned no longer to take personal pride in my voice—for I feel I’ve proved beyond doubt that my abilities come directly from God.
BB
Federal Way, Washington
