(At the time of this experience, Virginia Brandt Berg [1886-1968] was a helpless, hopeless invalid. Paralyzed from the waist down in an accident, she had been confined to bed for most of the previous five years. She also had life-threatening heart and lung problems, and suffered various other side effects from numerous unsuccessful operations to try to restore the use of her legs. Her condition had steadily deteriorated until she weighed only 78 pounds [35 kg].)

One evening as I lay alone on my sickbed, there suddenly came into my heart an intense longing; I felt compelled to cry aloud to some unseen power for help. I could not raise my voice above a whisper, so in an earnest whisper I pled, "If it could be possible that there is a God out there somewhere, reveal Yourself to me." I seemed driven by some power beyond myself to call and call, so over and over I repeated, "If You are there, please, oh please, for mercy's sake, reveal Yourself to me."

As though in response to my plea, a deep conviction of sin came over my heart. I felt as though I were the vilest of sinners. This was unusual for the simple reason that I had always been rather self-righteous. I had lived a very moral life and was quite proud of it-very self-satisfied. It was as though my eyes had suddenly been opened and I saw myself in my true condition for the first time in my life-my past good works appeared as nothing. The burden of sin and self increased until it seemed greater than I could bear, and at length I began to weep.

I was not alone any longer, for I felt His presence in that room as real as if some member of my family were standing by my sickbed, and I was talking to Him as naturally as a little child talks to a parent. I told Him all about it, and I knew He heard and understood, for a sweet, indescribable peace and a cool restfulness came over my troubled spirit. I had seen no vision, heard no voice, nor otherwise evidenced anything with the natural senses, but had made such real, personal contact with Him that I could truly say, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him" (2 Timothy 1:12). All my unbelief had fled. God was real indeed, and I was a "new creature" in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). The light had broken in!