I'd Rather Be in This Wheelchair
"I would rather be in this wheel chair with Jesus, then walking without Him." Every time I hear Joni Eareckson Tada repeat these words, my heart confronts me with my own despairing response to deep loss and grief. And how God has used the lives of women like Joni to turn my heart toward Him when I was desperate for help and hope. I "met" Joni through her books and videos when I was a young wife and mother. Her love for Jesus drew me deeper into the heart of our Savior and created in me a longing to experience the power of His resurrection, even though I feared the fellowship of His sufferings might be the only way for me to grow deeper in intimacy with Him.
Joni recently spoke at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention and her words took me on my own trip down memory lane. Tears fell again but this time as I realized once more how her sacrifice of praise continues to encourage me to surrender with joy to God's purposes in my life. I hope everyone I love will listen to this powerful message of struggle, transparency and total surrender to Jesus. You will long for more of Jesus. If you are disappointed with the circumstances of your life, if your heart is breaking because God seems absent or He seems to have checked out when it comes to you and your family, please take the time to listen to Joni's words and songs. If the sun is shining, as it was in my life when I first heard Joni's story, I urge you to hide Joni's story in your heart. One day, your heart may remind you of her story in a way that encourages you to not just surrender to God's purposes, but to revel in the joy of His love and presence. Perhaps her story will encourage and strengthen you to trust God with your life journey as well.