Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shana: This is Shana on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Have you ever been in a tight spot where there is no room to turn? Joni and Ken sure have. Listen to Joni share about it now.

Joni Eareckson Tada: We understand what it means to be in that tight spot, that narrow place, that difficult situation where there is no room to turn. And you have been there too. Even though you are the peacemaker in your family, conflicts just seem to get worse. Or try as you may, your paycheck doesn't seem to cover your rent, utilities, and groceries. Another tight, narrow place—how about struggling with chronic pain? But all the side effects from more medication only make it harder. So what do you do when you are in that narrow place where there seems to be no options, no solutions, no way out?

I have wondered that myself many times with balancing paralysis, breathing problems, pain issues, finding enough helpers, and so much more. And believe me, when I get in those tight spots, I can literally feel panic rising. How is this going to work? What if things don't pan out? How will I manage without people to help me this weekend? What if this pain doesn't go away by tomorrow?

If you are resonating with any of this, then you need to listen to this telling passage from Numbers chapter 22, verse 26. To set the scene, remember Balaam? He has saddled his donkey and has gone off to curse God's people. But as he heads down the road with a hedge on one side and a wall on the other, his path becomes more narrow, and he finds himself in a tight spot.

And what does Numbers chapter 22 say? It says this: "The angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left." Laying aside for the moment Balaam's evil scheme, this verse really speaks to us. And it should speak to you because God understands the tight, narrow places. He has, in fact, been in that tight spot himself.

And this should not only give you confidence but hope because maybe today you are in that narrow place. It is a hard place that God literally has led you into—a difficult place in life full of impossibilities, as though your path has narrowed to a wall on one side and a hedge closing in on the other. And if you are honest, it feels panicky, doesn't it? Because it is a heartbreaking, challenging place with no room to turn to the right or to the left, and you feel so alone.

But according to Numbers chapter 22, you are not alone. It is not a place where there is only room for the painful problem. Read that verse again. The angel of the Lord—that is the very presence of God himself—stands in that narrow place. And as the saying goes, if God has brought you to it, he's going to bring you through it.

How can that be? Because with God all things are possible, especially in impossible situations. Believe me, I have experienced it time and again: God coming through, God redeeming, God answering, God leading me up and out of it all.

Shana: Listening friend, I know Joni has encouraged you greatly today, just like she has encouraged me. And if you would like even more encouragement with this, just go to joniradio.org where you will find this program and a whole lot more. Be of good cheer, friend, because God is listening and he will fill those tight, narrow places in your life with his presence and his answer.

One more thing: we at Joni and Friends would love to pray for you through your hardships. So share your prayer needs with us today at joniradio.org.