Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shauna: I'm Shauna with Joni Eareckson Tada Sharing Hope. Here's Joni with a special word.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Some people think I know all the answers to questions about suffering and believe me, I do not. But I am often asked, "Joni, if God is so good, why doesn't he get rid of all the awful suffering in the world?" That question in fact was posed to me on a TV interview just last week. Now, I can't remember my exact words, but first, we know that God created the world good, but human rebellion brought the corruption and the death and suffering, injustice, and every other painful thing. So, it was human beings who broke the contract between God and man. It wasn't God's fault that sin entered the world, and I think people forget that.

But this is what I love about God. He did not abandon us sinners in hopelessness. As soon as sin entered the world, God promised that there would be a remedy. But who would have imagined that that remedy would occur through another human rebellion that ended in the execution of God's precious own son? Yet when Jesus was murdered, his death became the highest possible good for sinners. The cross not only brought salvation, it proved that there could be meaning in suffering. For if God could bring about salvation through the suffering of his son, then suffering for us all can have purpose if yielded to Christ.

Well, that's all nice and good, but isn't it about time for God to get rid of suffering? 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9 has the answer. 2 Peter says that God is not slow in keeping his promise to eliminate sin and the suffering that results from it. Rather, God is being patient. He's showing forbearance. He's taking his time so that many more sinners around the world have the chance to hear the good news of what Jesus has done for them.

Look, if God were to get rid of suffering and sin right now, he'd have to get rid of sinners who have not yet heard about Christ. And I certainly don't want that, and I don't think you do either. So, I do not mind if I have to be paralyzed and in this wheelchair just a little while longer. I do not mind if pain persists and my quadriplegic body wastes away. Will life get harder for me? Sure it will. But I'm okay with it because I am promised that my suffering has meaning. So, like 2 Peter 3:9, I can wait a little longer while the good news goes forth and reaches untold millions around the world.

And I'm so grateful that Joni and Friends is doing just that. God is delaying closing the curtain on sin and Satan and suffering so that more people, including more people with disabilities, whether through Wheels for the World, our retreats, getaways, more of those families will hear the good news of Jesus and respond to the call of salvation in him. And after that last soul comes into the kingdom, woo-hoo! 1 Peter 5 says, "After you've suffered for a little while, then the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen."

Yep, one day the curtain will drop on sin and suffering, but until then, we've got so much work to do. We must give the gospel until that very last person says yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior. And then...

Shauna: Oh, yes, Joni. And listening friend, get on board with us at Joni and Friends as we give the salvation message of Jesus Christ.