Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shana: This is Shana on Johnny Erickson Tada sharing hope. Here's Johnny with one of her favorite hymns. Sing it if you know it.

Joni Eareckson Tada: All the way my savior leads me. What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercies who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort hereby faith in him to dwell. For I know whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. For I know whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. Mm, do I love that hymn. How well Jesus does all things in our lives. But I'll be the first to tell you, the first to confess that often he leads me down paths that take me into some very dark places.

Yet all the way my savior leads me and sometimes it's uh could be a hospital bed. I hate pressure sores, but occasionally because of sitting up in a wheelchair I will develop a store and there is just not I can do about it but lie flat on my back in bed so it can heal. Now in years past it would have depressed me to no end to stay in bed for weeks. But now as soon as it happens in bed out of my wheelchair Look, in bed the only thing I can do is look up flat on my back.

I have to look up when I'm in bed. It's the only physical position I can be in. But when I'm gazing at the ceiling, when I force myself to look up and not down, I'll pray Jesus, even in this you do with all things well. This really hurts. I don't like this path, but you do it well. And I say along with Psalm 119, you have dealt well with your servant, oh Lord. Man, I've got to remember that. God's dealings with me are always well. Even if I don't feel like it, even when I'm in bed for an extended time surrounded by four walls, God's dealings with us are always good.

How so? Well, the very next verse in Psalm 119 tells why. It says, before I was afflicted I went astray. That is so true. When there are no hard times, life can get a little relaxed and our hearts start wandering. We're so prone not to stay near the Lord, but affliction, even something as dreary as lying in bed for weeks healing a sore, even that affliction drives us closer to God. Another scripture that helps me look up again Psalm 119 says, it's good for me that I've been afflicted that I might learn your statutes. Hey, that I might learn God's promises, that his grace is reliable, that his presence is enough.

His hope will always see me through. And what do you know? Most of those promises are in Psalm 119 like the 50th verse, my comfort and suffering is this. Your promise preserves my life. Oh friend, please remember that God's dealings with you are always good. Jesus doeth all things well in your life. He'll never leave you, never forsake you. He'll carry his work to completion. He'll pour out grace. He'll give you hope. He will not abandon the work of his hands more and more all the way your savior leads you. Yes, even into some dark places.

And if that's where you are today, look up because your comfort and suffering is this. God's promises will always renew, always preserve your life.

Shana: What a great word. And friend, thanks so much for listening to Johnny Erickson Tada sharing hope where we love to share hope through every hardship.