Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Speaker 1

Happy New Year. This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson. Tada. Sharing hope. If you're anything like me, it's a fight to stay grateful. But of course, our dear Joni has some great wisdom to help us in the fight.

Speaker 2

That's right, it is. It is a fight. Because our natural tendency is not to be grateful. But when it comes to fostering gratitude in our hearts, you just gotta fight to stay satisfied with God. That's something that John Piper says all the time. I just have to. To spend more hours studying about him and fewer hours researching my disability or, you know, looking up chronic pain on the Internet. I have to fatten myself on the promises of God.

And I did that the other day. I was at the office of Johnny and Friends. And my corset, I wear this tight surgical support garment. It helps me sit up straight and breathe deeply. Anyway, this corset that I wear all the time was digging into my hip, so I asked my friend to adjust my sitting position in my wheelchair. But in less than 30 minutes, my hip was complaining again, so I loosened the corset. Then I couldn't breathe. Finally, in frustration, I asked for help to lay down on a little bed in the restroom. Lying there, I had to fight all feelings of defeat and discouragement.

But I knew I had to do more than just say no to bitterness. I had to say yes to God and his promises. Because it's the only way to cultivate gratitude. It's the only way to get back your spiritual bearings. Our aim in life is much more than just fighting off feelings of defeat or, you know, I'm sick and tired of this, or I hate it when things get this bad. No, no, no. You have to fight off those things. But you also have to fight for things that you know to be true, like God's promises.

So while my friend gave me a break and I was lying there in bed, I rehearsed the many things I know to be true about God. Lying there, I thought, Jesus, I know you're never going to leave me or forsake me, and I know that you do not take your hands off the wheel of my life for a nanosecond. I know it is your constant desire to do good toward me. That is, it is God's desire for my soul to cultivate good, like patience and endurance and self-control.

And finally, right before I got back up in my wheelchair, I fought to remember the fight Jesus went through for me. Jesus Christ went without comfort so that I might have it. He postponed joy so that I might share in it when I suffer. He willingly chose isolation so that I might never be alone in my hurt. Finally, Jesus, when He walked on earth, had no real fellowship of suffering. He only experienced abandonment by his best friends during his hour of greatest need. So he went without fellowship that I might enjoy it.

Contemplating all these things about my Savior, it alone was enough to cause great gratitude in my heart. And by the time I was up in my wheelchair and back to work, the frustration had dissipated. My soul was at peace.

Is there a trial souring your disposition toward God? Fostering doubts? Then, friend, fight. Fight not only against defeat and discouragement, but fight to stay satisfied in God. Think on his promises. Rehearse out loud how good Jesus has been to you, and gratitude will come.

Speaker 1

And friend, if you've been blessed by Joni's message, and I know you have, please share them with a friend.

You'll find this program and so much more at jonirdio.org.

Remember, gratitude will always have the upper hand in your heart when you're satisfied, when you stay content in Christ, and when you see Jesus as sufficient, for Jesus is enough.