Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a look at the purpose behind suffering. Because when you’re a child of God, suffering doesn’t come at you without purpose, without great cause. I love this quote by Alan Redpath, he said, “There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch me until, first, it has gone past God, gone past Christ, and then right through to me. And if it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose.” Man, the lady in the wheelchair loves that quote by Redpath; I really believe it. I’m convinced great hardship has the potential for great purpose. So, just what is that purpose behind affliction and suffering? Well, if we look to the Bible for purposes, we can easily find them. Hebrews Chapter 12 makes it plain that some suffering is given in order to, well, to discipline or chastise or correct a person for his wrongful ways – Jonah is a great example of that. He ran away from God, got into trouble on the stormy sea, was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. Hebrews tells us to endure hardship for the sake of discipline. So right there is one purpose and as I often say to friends (some of you might not like this); but I believe God disciplined me when I had my broken neck. I was off on a really wrong path. I was heading for real moral trouble. God rescued me through this wheelchair. I know, I know, some of you may have a hard time seeing that the rod of God might’ve had something to do with my paralysis, but when I read Hebrews Chapter 12, all I see is a good, good Father who’s got His children’s best interest (my spiritual well-being) at heart. So okay, enough of that. That’s at least one purpose, right? Discipline, correction, reproof. But some suffering is given not to correct past wrongs, but to prevent future ones, like Joseph who was sold into slavery, all so that he might rescue God's people from famine. And there’s Daniel in the lion’s den, in the fiery furnace, all of it set the stage for the Persian king to look with favor on God’s people in exile. But some suffering has no purpose. No purpose other than to lead a person to love God more ardently for the sake of Christ alone, and then to discover ultimate, perhaps even the highest peace and freedom. I’ve seen God work in my life that way; as I’ve grown older in Christ and lived longer in my wheelchair, I have been led to love Jesus for His own sake – to share in the fellowship of His sufferings, to enjoy His grace, and to lean hard on Him each and every day. And I see this in the special-needs families that we serve at our Joni and Friends Family Retreats. Whether the hardship, disability in their lives has been a matter of discipline, or something to prevent worse circumstances in the future, I can’t say. But I can say that these kids and adults with disabilities and their families are drawn so much closer to Christ through their hardships. You gotta see it for yourself. On my radio page today at joniradio.org take a look at a new video highlighting all that happens at a Family Retreat. And when you do, you just might decide you want to volunteer with us, we need more friends like you to chip in and help out, so visit Joniradio.org. And finally, one more word on this topic of suffering and its purpose. Tim Keller once said, "The best people often have terrible lives. Job is one example, and Jesus – the ultimate Job – is another example." Yep, people with hard lives really can and, yes, do discover the highest peace and freedom through their suffering. See it for yourself this summer at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat. And hey, if you need more inspiration you just have to go to my blog today at joniandfriends.org. © Joni and Friends

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I’m wondering; how do you sleep? Well, for me lately I have not been sleeping well. As you know I’ve battled cancer and finished radiation therapy – the treatment has caused more-than-the-usual pain and a lot of fatigue that I’m still not over yet. And that, in turn, has resulted in very little sleep. I’ve got the joint pain in my back that keeps me up. I’ve tried everything, nothing helps. Over the last month, I've laid awake at night, watching the digital clock that projects itself on my ceiling, and I stare at it wondering how I will be able to survive on so little rest. I prayed “Lord, what is the way out of this impossible situation involving pain, and lack of sleep, and cancer, and radiation, and fatigue? And I don’t want to wake my husband up to turn me three more times. Will you come to my rescue; will you deliver me from this cycle of no sleep?” Honestly, sometimes at 4 AM, it can feel like I’m in a trap. But, my heart is steadfast. And I draw courage from Exodus 14, verse 2. Get this; it’s where the Lord ordered Moses (now listen closely), "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore." Now at first glance, the verse seems like nothing more than directions on MapQuest as to how to, where to set up camp. But if you look at that verse closer, it shows God purposefully telling His people to turn around; stop heading toward Mount Sinai, turn around and head back. Head back where? Well, God told them to turn back and follow Him into an inescapable trap. “Camp there,” he says! With mountains on either side, the sea in front, and Pharaoh’s threatening armies closing in from behind. The Lord personally led them into an impossible situation; a dangerous situation. And there was no answer. And if there were one, it would have to be really, really, really miraculous; I mean, a big time phenomenon, and guess what? It was! God’s people were pressed up against the waves, cowering as they heard the thunderous sound of chariots approaching. But then they look, oh my goodness, the Red Sea begins parting, congealing into two skyscraper walls of water. In faith, believing that God would keep the waters at bay, the Lord’s people then walked through a highway in the ocean, and God received overwhelming glory, and praise and thanksgiving! So, can you see why Exodus 14:2 is such an encouragement? I'm trusting God to miraculously find a way to help me live with paralysis, and cancer, and radiation, and pain, AND much-needed sleep. Like Moses, I’m confident God has led me to camp on the shore, all so that He might display His wonderous way out, all for His glory. So, if you are feeling trapped, if you are frustrated by the situation in which you find yourself, remember the lesson of Exodus. God says, “Tell the Israelites to turn back, I’m going to lead them into a trap. I’m going to have them encamp in a place where there is no way out and I’ll get the glory when I open a way.” That’s really a funny thing, God tells them twice. Turn around and camp there; that’s right, right there along the shore. Oh friend, God has led you exactly the same way; where He wants you. He will make a way though, a miraculous way if you and I would but trust Him. And it’ll be all to His glory. As the song goes, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. He will be my guide; He'll hold me closely by His side. With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way. Oh friend, remember, He will make a way. Trust Him to miraculously do that for you today and when He does, thank Him, glorify Him for leading you out of the trap. Thanks for listening today on Joni and Friends. © Joni and Friends

I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a word for you who are feeling down. And maybe not just feeling down, but you know you are down, down for the count, overwhelmed, lying prostrate, near defeat. It could be you are a caregiver who simply has nothing else to give. It could be a wheelchair you’re trying to get used to but you can’t—could be an eviction notice, or a layoff, or a death in the family, an unexpected divorce. Whatever, it’s overwhelming and you are flat out and face down, and I am with you; I have been there; I know how it feels. During those many weeks of battling my recent cancer, after so many radiation treatments, and cancer drugs that left me utterly fatigued, and all that lack of sleep, I hit the floor, face down. I was overwhelmed. But when your trials force your face to the floor, there’s only one thing you can do and second Chronicles Chapter 13 tells us. So let me set the scene here: "Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both the front and the rear. Then they cried out to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel; the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord." So now, what did God's people do when they were surrounded on all sides, feeling like they were down for the count and overwhelmed, danger on every side? They looked up for deliverance. I love that, “they looked up” and then they cried out to the Lord. And when I say that they cried, I mean it. Earnest prayer has in it more than a few groans; come on, you gotta show a little passion, a little emotion; you gotta show God that your heart is in the prayer that you are asking Him for deliverance. What's more, to the cry of prayer, the people of Judah then added the shout of faith. And they became (as it says) more than conquerors. Now I find that fascinating, because when we are in trouble, God wants us to be more than conquerors. And so, He has us attach importance to our prayers: like, come on, pour out your gut, let me hear your heart, I want to know that “you mean this;” you really want help from on High. So cry out. But then, get up from your prayer and offer a shout of faith, just like Judah did. “God, I know you’re going to do this! You’re gonna come through. You’re gonna make good on your promises! I believe you and I am stakin’ my life on it.” That is the way to defeat an enemy that has surrounded you left and right and center; from behind and before. Cry out to the Lord (cry out to the Lord) and then lift a shout of faith, holding God happily to His promises. You know it’s what we do with weary and wounded special-needs families who come to our Family Retreats, many of them feeling down for the count, so overwhelmed, near defeat. We come alongside ‘em, we help them cry out to the Lord, we shed tears with them and then we help them lift a shout of confidence in God and His promises, helping ‘em be more than conquerors. And I would like you to help us do that. Our Family Retreat season starts full swing next month and we need people who could cry out to the Lord. Volunteers (we call them short term missionaries), Christians who will come alongside these families and make a difference. Just get all the info on my radio page today at joniradio.org and then come and serve with us this summer at a Joni and Friends’ Family Retreat. And while you’re on my radio page, watch a very cool brand-new video that I just posted of what a Family Retreat looks like and feels like. Don’t miss it today at joniradio.org. And if you’ve got problems, cry out to God today and then lift a shout of faith. © Joni and Friends

Although it is important to look forward to joining Christ in heaven one day, we need to use all the time we have here on earth to share the Gospel with our friends and neighbors.

Every summer many families affected by disability are blessed at a Family Retreat, and you could serve as an STM and make a difference in their lives.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can change “ought-to’s” into “want-to’s.”

Sometimes it’s hard to think that awful circumstances could possibly be used of God, but He does use them to do something good in you.

When we Christians speak the truth to one another in love, it’s a way of speaking honesty into each other’s hearts. We should look for opportunities to speak the truth of the gospel to one another.

“If Christ has not been raised… we are of all most people to be pitied…” But Jesus did burst out of the grave, imparting new life, fresh hope, joy eternal!

God planned the resurrection to give you hope and a happy future. No matter how hard your times are right now, how difficult, there’s always the warm hope of Easter.