God heals in different ways, and sometimes it doesn’t look the way we’d hope. Listen as author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada shares her journey of paralysis but ultimate trust in God.
When Joni was 17, she had a diving accident and became paralyzed from the neck down. She struggled for days with depression and anger, but Joni soon made a decision that she wanted to live as full a life as possible, despite her wheelchair. Today she speaks all over the world and is a disability advocate. Her ministry, Joni and Friends, brings wheelchairs and services to people in dozens of countries who lack access to medical care. She describes her own takeaways from searching the Bible for answers.
“What does the Bible mean when it uses the word ‘good’? God intends all things for the good of our souls. God has taken away the only kind of suffering that can ever really damage us and that’s separation from Him. Suffering is designed to make our souls great and courageous. My greatest disappointment turned out to be an open door to great delight – it began by my asking God, what kind of healing are you talking about?”
Joni describes the Christian way to wake up each morning, whatever trials you may be facing or fear you may be wrestling with.
“Needing Jesus desperately and marshaling the kind of grace needed to get through that day.”
Joni lists a number of things we can do to find Jesus in our struggle:
• Sing worship hymns.
• Surround yourself with believers.
• Ask God how you can serve the people around you.
• Look for “splash-overs of heaven” in the midst of the tough times
Joni’s new devotional is titled Beside Bethesda.
Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; John 5; 2 Peter 3:8; Psalm 90:12
Theme Song: Mighty Wave by Sarah Reeves
