Joni shares a poem about how God’s embrace is greater than pain’s grip.
Read Shannon's Poem here.
SHAUNA: Hi this is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. And today Joni wants to share Shannon’s poem with you.
JONI: Shannon is a dear friend, and she lives with chronic pain; not a day goes by that Shannon is not dealing with constant, deep pain in her back and neck. But she is such an encouragement to me, and to others who know her. Last winter, she wrote to tell me about one particularly difficult weekend. Her pastor husband was away, leading a tour to Israel, and a weary friend from the West Coast had unexpectedly come for a visit. It happened to be the same weekend a bad winter storm hit their region. Without her husband handy, and the snow-blower not working, and with water trickling in on the first floor, Shannon had to put aside her pain. She donned her jacket and started shoveling 42 inches of snow. It was backbreaking work for anyone, but for her, it meant recuperating for weeks.
After her husband returned, and the snow melted, and her friend went back home, Shannon was able to get some much-needed rest. And as she reflected on all that had happened, and put it to prayer, the words of a poem began to take shape. When she sent it to me, I just knew I had to pass it on to you. You may be one who struggles with chronic pain, and if you do, listen to these inspiring words that a fellow sufferer has written for you. She wrote:
“Pain is the enemy that has no hands but a powerful grip.
He has no face but an angry countenance.
Pain has no voice but a scream that can be deafening.
Pain has no respect for the righteous and imposes himself on the weak.
Pain does not listen, it does not quit, it does not sleep.
But pain’s grip is not stronger than God’s embrace.
His countenance disappears in the light of Christ’s face.
His scream is easily muzzled by God’s whisper to my heart.
His disrespect brings glory to the righteous and God’s strength to the weak.
God bends down and listens, he never fails, and he never sleeps.
In all of pain’s arguments, God has a greater answer:
His grace is sufficient, his mercy is everlasting,
And his love is more than enough for me.”
Wow! What a powerful poem, and what I love about it is that it is so real; it tells the truth. Pain does have a powerful grip. And its scream can be deafening. And I don’t care what others say, I know for a fact that pain does not listen; it doesn’t care; it does not quit, and it does not sleep. It is relentless! And of all the results of a broken, sin-sick world, pain might be one of the fiercest personal battles we face in a fallen world. Yet there is that word “but.” But pain’s grip is not stronger than God’s embrace. In all of pain’s whining, complaining, and arguing, no matter how insistent its accusations, God has a greater answer. His grace is sufficient; his mercy is everlasting, and his love is more than enough for you.
SHAUNA: Friend, are you struggling with pain today, or know someone who is? Why not share this program with them, and please, go to joniradio.org; let us know how we can pray for you. And while you’re there, you can download Shannon’s poem. It’s something to reach for at the same time you’re reaching for your arthritis strength Tylenol, because God’s embrace is greater than pain’s grip. Thanks for listening today to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope! Be sure to visit joniradio.org today.
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