Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shauna: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada sharing hope. Today, Joni has a bit of a scary story.

Joni Eareckson Tada: When I share my testimony, it always includes that part about diving off that raft into shallow water, breaking my neck, and then floating face down. Right there is a pretty scary picture. And when you think about it, honestly, it is because I recall silently crying out to God for help when I was face down in the water. "Help me, Lord, help." Yet in the next instant, my sister Kathy rescued me just in the nick of time, just when I was about to lose my breath.

She pulled me up out of that water without a second to spare. And I tell you, oxygen never tasted so good. But I had barely escaped. I was a lot like that person in Psalm 18 where it says, "The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God for help."

After I shared my testimony at this one event, a woman came up to me and said, "Joni, didn't you panic when you were face down in the water? I mean, you were running out of breath. Weren't you frightened?" Looking back, strange as it may seem, I really wasn't frightened. Although I knew that in the next instant I'd lose it and water would flood my lungs—I mean, I knew my awful predicament—I was conscious that I was running out of breath face down in the water.

But as I shared in my testimony, I had cried out to God for help. And I told this woman that, honestly, a deep and powerful peace held fear at bay. To this day, I wish I could explain it. I just did not panic. I wasn't afraid. Many years later, I learned why. Psalm 68:20 says, "Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death." I like the way the Psalmist puts that. When it comes to death, our Sovereign Lord is an escape artist.

I can't remember who said this—I think it was Albert Barnes, but maybe not—anyway, this person wrote, "All that pertains to deliverance from death, all that prepares for it, all that makes it easy to be borne, all that constitutes a rescue from its pains and horrors, all that follows death in a higher and more blessed world, all that makes death final and places us in a condition where death is no more to be dreaded—all of this belongs to God. All this is under His control. He only can enable us to bear death. He only can conduct us from a bed of death to a world where we shall never die."

Wow, is that good news or what? For anyone facing fearful thoughts of dying one day, or maybe you've been diagnosed with a terminal illness and you know your time is short, and you think to yourself, "What's it going to be like? Will I fall apart? Will I become overwhelmed with fear when I'm finally faced with life's end?" Friend, please remember that all this belongs to God. All of it is under His control. And He will give you grace just in the nick of time, just when you need Him most. Your God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.

Shauna: Please go to joniradio.org today where you'll find this program and a virtual storehouse of Joni's radio encouragement and inspiration. It's all there waiting for you at joniradio.org. And here's a final thought: If your days are blessed with ease and comfort, please don't forget the rich and many spiritual blessings God our Father has bestowed upon you. Take time to thank Him today and feel the pleasure of His spiritual embrace.