When protecting the voiceless feels impossible – God calls you to pray, persevere, and trust Him.
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SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Have you ever prayed an impossible prayer? Well then, you won’t want to miss these words of wisdom from our dear friend, Joni.
JONI: You should know that God specializes in answering prayers like that – prayers that seem impossible. In fact, I’m praying such a prayer right now. But before I tell you what that prayer is, let me give you the back story on it. Because never, ever have I witnessed such disregard in our country for the wellbeing of the elderly, newborns with disabilities, the medically fragile, and quadriplegics like me. Just listen to Ben; he’s got spinal muscular atrophy, and he says – and this is a quote – “Our society has developed a knee-jerk negative response when it comes to respecting life. In a country where healthcare is expensive and inaccessible, death is cheaper. My home state does not want to help me with my healthcare, but they are happy to offer me assisted suicide.” My goodness, Ben. You know, from rulings on abortion, to healthcare triaging, and as we just heard from Ben, to all the states legalizing euthanasia.
Some time ago, I saw a television newscaster show an advertisement that highlighted a young girl with Down syndrome. The news anchor applauded the advertiser for always being “up with the times;” this company is so inclusive. And then her co-anchor remarked on the beauty and the winsome personality of this young actress with Down syndrome, and how she represented the best of a wonderfully diverse society. The next day I ran into a neighbor who said, “Hey, did you see that news clip about that girl with Down Syndrome? I mean, wasn’t she an inspiration?” I nodded, but immediately thought of the dark irony; because it was so schizophrenic. Because countless pre-born children with Down syndrome never had – and never will have – the opportunity to be considered winsome or inspirational. In our schizophrenic culture, they are ineligible for inclusion. They don’t qualify to be part of a diverse society. Because if that young actor with Down syndrome could rewind the clock and suddenly find herself back in the womb of a different woman, she would be considered mindless fetal tissue not worthy of dignity or human rights. Tissue to be aborted.
But it’s what happens when God is pushed out of the national conversation. My heart breaks every time judges or lawmakers rule against life. The long-held dike which has protected the weak, it’s crumbling. But God has declared a rallying call in Psalm 82 where he tells us to “Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Yeah, in this country we’re facing a mountain of opposition. But Jesus still tells us to have faith and pray. Because when we do, that mountain will be tossed into the sea, just like it says in Mark 11. Yeah, it’s an uphill battle, it is an impossible prayer, but as we approach election day, join me in following Christ’s call to faithfully pray for life.
SHAUNA: I learned through ultrasound at 4 months pregnant that my daughter Sarah had Down syndrome, and I was appalled at how aggressively the medical community pressured me to consider abortion, just because Sarah has an extra chromosome! So, I’m joining Joni in lifting impossible prayers up before the Lord, and I hope you are too. Because with God, all things are possible; yes, even restoring the heart of our nation to safeguard life. So, let’s commit to upholding God’s unchanging Word as we intercede for our rapidly changing society and declare the sanctity of human life during Down Syndrome Awareness Month and all year long.
© Joni and Friends