Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to Joni and Friends.
In the early days of my injury when I was on that geriatric ward in a state institution, feeling as though my life was doomed, my dear father, my dear daddy used to come into the hospital... he’d so want to cheer me up on his visits. He would hold onto the guardrail of my hospital bed and whisper to me with wet eyes, he would say “Joni. Joni, everyday you’re getting better. Every day better and better and better.”
In my heart of hearts, I hoped he was right. I hoped that the doctor had told him something that I did not know, that soon the paralysis would wear off and I really would get better. But as weeks and months wore on, the sad fact sunk in that my paralysis was permanent.
Now a pragmatist might say, “See? Your father’s words were nothing but wishful thinking. You didn’t get better. He shouldn’t have given you false hopes. Because the truth is, you never got better at all.”
But that is not the way I choose to look at it. Because in retrospect, my father was right. Everyday I did get better – maybe not on the outside, maybe not physically, but on the inside I sure got better. Slowly bit by bit, inside I got better. And I do think that my father’s words were a kind of pronouncement, a blessing over me lying there in that hospital bed... it was as though he brought forth in me the vision that he had; that I, indeed, would get better.
And I did! Over the years my soul became settled. My hope in heaven became more buoyant and real. My joy became anchored to things of God. My relationships became centered in Christ. My prayers were deeper and more meaningful. And my outlook on life centered less on temporary stuff and more on eternal things. What with all that... you tell me I didn’t get better! Why, I sure did... in fact, it was a much better kind of better. It was a best better. It was, in fact, it was the definition of what “getting better” really is from God’s perspective.
Now I’m sure there are friends listening who are praying and longing for a loved one to physically get better. All I’m saying is let’s not forget the sort of healing described in Jeremiah 17:14 for it says there, “Heal me, Oh Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved for you are the one I praise.”
Friend, God is interested in healing the inside of a person. Healing the heart and the soul, the thoughts and the attitudes, the motives and the values and the intentions. I know because I’ve experienced that kind of healing. And that’s why I can say from a wheelchair that a glad heart is definitely the best better by a long shot. And my daddy was right.
I'd like to know your thoughts on what I've shared today. What do you think it means to really "get better" from the Bible's point of view? I'd like you to join the conversation with me at JoniandFriendsradio.org -- I'm always interested to hear what you have to say, you the listener, what you think about such things. Besides, I've got some things I'd like to show you on my radio page today -- I've posted a photo of an African friend who is my inspiration... I'm all the better for just knowing that this man (who lives in such terrible physical pain), I'm all the for better just knowing that he's hanging in there, and trusting God, and maybe not experiencing physical healing... but I know it’s spiritual healing as that man goes and deeper into the intimacy of knowing Jesus better. After all, knowing the Lord really is the "better" better. So, see what I'm talking about... join me at JoniandFriendsradio.org and see that a glad heart is definitely the best better.
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