Dive into another intriguing Q&A with Joni as she answers some thought-provoking questions! Human weakness, when met with perseverance and a joyful heart, becomes undeniable proof of God’s ultimate power. If you want to ask Joni another question, visit www.joniradio.org.
Ask Joni a question here!
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. And that’s exactly what Joni’s going to do today. Because Joni, I’ve got a stack of questions here for you from our faithful listeners, and I just know your answers will be filled with hope. Let’s get to this first one; it’s from Richard. And he asks, “Joni, how has God used your disability to have others know Jesus?
JONI: Oh, Richard, what a great question! Because I know the way I handle my disability; I know it helps doubters and non-believers, and skeptics. It helps them see God; that he has to be helping me. I mean, they see that I cannot use my hands or legs; that I’m in pain; that I’ve got struggles and yet, they see me persevere with a smile. And to them that smile is proof of a power greater than my own. To be joyful in suffering is totally unnatural and has just go to point to a supernatural reality. The Apostle Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. He says that “We have this treasure [that is, the treasure of knowing Christ] in jars of clay [that is, bodies that break easily]. We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed [right there is proof of God’s power, right?].” Oh, I love that verse because Paul teaches here that human weakness in great trials [when matched with perseverance], reveals God’s power. And Richard, that’s how God uses my quadriplegia to help others take seriously the claims of Christ. That was a good question, Richard!
SHAUNA: That was a great question! And I’ve got another one for you, Joni. This one’s from Kalah. And she asks, “How did your accident affect your parents and your siblings?”
JONI: You know, Kalah, if you were to ask my family today, all three of my sisters would say that it disrupted everything at first: everyone’s schedules, vacation plans [because now, things were just too expensive]; I mean, my accident turned everyone’s plans upside down – all because my family was needed. I needed them. My parents and my sisters all had to make huge sacrifices, and so, my accident impacted everyone. And yet, today, my family would emphatically tell you how grateful they are, because God spiritually woke them up. Today they are all thankful for my accident because it changed them. God rescued them and saved them. Yep, the whole family made sacrifices; but it was worth it.
SHAUNA: I love that answer Joni and I’ve got time for one more here. Our last one is from Beth, and she asks, “Joni, I’d love to hear you reiterate what taking up your cross daily means to you.”
JONI: I’m sure you’re wanting my reflections on Luke 9:23 where Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Beth, the challenge Jesus gives here calls for a life of complete self-denial and unwavering resolve to follow Jesus, even when it leads to hardship and deep suffering. And this is how we do it: every day, we pick up our cross in order to die to the sins [you know, like bitterness and complaining]; the sins that Christ died for on his cross. It was our sin, our bitterness, our complaining that nailed him to his cross and we’re called to nail our sins to our cross. Hardship and suffering will reveal, it’ll expose the worst of stuff inside of us [bitterness, resentment, selfishness, envy, pride] and so, our suffering [that is the cross we bear] is our best chance to identify those sins and thereby put them to death, saying yes to Jesus, and no to self.
SHAUNA: Thanks so much for the hope you share today with Beth, with Kalah, with Richard and for all our listeners.
JONI: My pleasure.
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