Hear Joni talk about a creed that’s popular amongst Japanese Christians but relatable for everyone.
I love receiving your letters – all kinds of letters from listeners.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I’m sharing hope today from one listener who sent me a creed. Now, a creed is a formal statement of beliefs; it’s a set of convictions that guide a person’s actions. A creed [such as the Nicene Creed or the Apostle’s Creed] you know what it is – it’s a statement of truths about God and us; that we are sinners, and he is holy. Well, the creed that I was sent is a set of statements about suffering. How to view it and how to process it. How to embrace suffering, and what it’s outcomes are. Now, my listening friend received it from her parents who helped serve in a Japanese church some years ago. There they met a Japanese woman who experienced great hardship and disability, and this “creed for those who have suffered” helped her tremendously. So, when the parents came back to America, they returned with this creed. Apparently, it’s popular among Japanese Christians, and they thought I would be blessed by it. And they are right. In fact, this creed for those who suffer might be familiar to you. This is how it goes.
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel my need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for – but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed! -Author unknown
And I’m so grateful to the listener who sent me this wonderful creed because it is a clear statement of what is true and real about suffering. It’s a creed that shows us what to look for in our suffering, and how to embrace God’s will rather than disappointment. You know, I’ve read this creed several times, and it made me think how upside-down God’s kingdom is when you compare it to the kingdom of this world. The world thinks that the word good means health and wealth and prosperity, but to the suffering Christian, the word good means courage, and patience, and endurance, and holiness. The world thinks that having the praise of men is powerful, but to the Christian who suffers, he empties himself in order to have the power of God. And this creed [and I don’t know if it originated in Japan or what but], this creed could have been written by the Apostle Paul because he wrote in 2 Corinthians that the hard things that happen to him made him feel his need of God.
And that phrase, “I asked for all things that I might enjoy life, but I was given life that I might enjoy all things?” For those who suffer, I tell you, that is a powerful statement. We have been given Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. He is the prince of life, the resurrection and the life, he has got the words of life, and he is, to us, abundant life. When you suffer [as I have], there is nothing more satisfying than having the life of Jesus Christ empower you, forgive you, guide you, and comfort you. Hey, if you would like a copy of this “A Creed for Those Who Have Suffered,” then write me today at joniradio.org. Or you can download it, again, at joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends