Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to “Joni and Friends”. I came across Proverbs 20:30 the other day and I had to stop and read it a couple of times. It says, “Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.” Whoa! Now that’s a verse that’ll make you sit up and take notice. I mean I have to admit it brought up contorted images of the Spanish Inquisition and the Salem witch trials – or at best, stern, tight-lipped schoolmarms walking the classroom aisles with a rod in hand. Proverbs may be a book filled with wisdom and godly instruction, but this verse seemed better suited for the 16th century.
But my heart has warmed to Proverbs 20:30. That’s because – and I’ve told you this before – these days I’m dealing with back pain. And there have been a few days where I’ve had to cancel everything or just stay in bed. And I’ll tell you that has humbled me-- my pride has taken a beating as I’ve missed deadlines and cancelled appointments. I feel awful that everybody’s schedule has had to bend around mine. I feel humiliated trying to do work – the simplest of tasks – and do them from my bed.
And I'll tell you the truth, what a purging it has been for my inmost being! I’d like to think I'm not the resentful, murmuring, spiteful type, but there have been days I’ve had to bite my tongue from grumbling. This back pain of late has revealed – in the words of Proverbs 20 – it’s purged and brought to the surface a lot of not-so-pretty things about my character that need to be done away with. It seems with me, that’s always God's purpose for suffering in my life.
But I'm so grateful through all of it, because God is forcing me to learn the deeper meaning of Psalm 119:67, 71, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word…It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”
How about you, friend? God may land a knock-out blow to your puffed-up pride. He may wound your heart through a deep disappointment. He will go to great lengths to beat hateful habits out of your character and purge selfishness from your soul. Your ego may feel trampled in the midst of it. But that’s not bad. I, for one know, I will come out the other end all the richer, all the happier for the wounding. It’s what Proverbs 20:30 is all about.
Your God is not a stern, tight-lipped celestial ogre. He’s not on a witch hunt. He’s not walking up and down the aisle with a rod ready to smack your fingers. No! Psalm 103 assures us that He is the kind Father who has compassion on you. Elsewhere it says that He longs to be gracious to you, that He takes great joy over you. God is the wise and wonderful Sovereign Lord described in Hebrews 12:10 who “…disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” That’s no inquisition. That, my friend, is what following Jesus is all about.
I am so grateful to God that I can share these words of encouragement with you. And you don’t even have to have a disability… that’s why we call our ministry “Joni and Friends”. It’s all about friends spending time together and uplifting one another through prayer and giving insights in the word of God and inspire and refresh. Want to learn more? Well, you can always visit us at joniandfriends.org for more Christian encouragement.
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