Do you lack courage? Then try hanging around someone who's courageous.
It's true. You ought to try it. Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and let me explain. Last year when I had my mastectomy, my doctor decided to implant a catheter port in my chest wall –my quadriplegic veins are pretty thin, and this little port is like a small checker underneath my skin into which they can stick a needle to either draw blood or give chemotherapy. It’s pretty hard to find a good vein on me, and the port under my chest wall made it a lot easier to take chemo. I still have it underneath my chest, even though I'm done with cancer treatment – they want to keep it in there for another couple of years until I can be declared cancer free. The only inconvenience is, I have to go into the lab every six weeks to get the port flushed.
I don't mind that. What I do mind is, this port is situated high enough on my chest so I'm able to feel the needle when they plunge it in. And a port needle is a big needle! I remember that last year it really hurt the first time they did it, and I looked around at some of the other people hooked up to their IV’s and wondered if it hurt them as much as it did me. When I went in for my second round of chemotherapy, I felt like a coward when they approached me with that big needle. But then I saw the nurse stick the woman next to me: I couldn't believe it; that woman didn't recoil or shy away or draw back or flinch or nothing! It didn't seem to bother her at all.
Well the woman really inspired me, and so I asked the nurse, "Is there something I can do like her to make this less painful?" to which she replied, "Yes there is. Joni, just take a deep breath right before I stick you; then let it out fully and quickly when I plunge the needle in." And you know what? It worked! I didn't feel pain anywhere as I did before. And now, many months later, as well as many port flushes later, I'm like that woman I first saw during that second round of chemo – I don't draw back or flinch or anything. I found her courage.
You know friend I once heard someone say that human beings naturally tend toward cowardice and fear – you hang around someone who's afraid, and it will breed fear. Spend time with someone who was cowardly and it impacts you, too. But! If you spend time with someone who is brave and courageous, guess what: courage breeds courage. And God knows this. He wrote the book on it. It's why he says in Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." God knows that when we are brave, we influence others to be brave. He knows that when we act cowardly, it influences others to do the same. So we’ve got a command, God commands us to be courageous… be strong… be brave.
And we need to especially be courageous when it comes to giving the Gospel of Christ. I know I am greatly influenced when I'm with others who are bold that way. And to help you share the Good News courageously, don’t forget, this week I want to send you this Gospel booklet called “Set Free by Grace” which includes not only the steps to salvation, but the whole Gospel of John. I love the front cover – it’s a photo of a woman in a wheelchair lifting her arms. So this is a great booklet if you want to pass it on to an unsaved friend or neighbor who has a disability. When we’re done here, just go directly to our radio page at joniandfriends.org and ask for “Set Free by Grace.” We’ll send you three copies… for three opportunities to share the love of Christ with strength and courage!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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