In your hardest moments you’re not alone. Through your suffering, God is showing the world how powerful His sustaining grace really is.
SHAUNA: Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope.Here’s our dear friend Joni with a powerful lesson from Ephesians.
JONI: You know, when I broke my neck and tumbled into depression; when I was stuck in the hospital for nearly two years – two long years – I felt so isolated, so alone. The dreary hospital routines month after month – it made me feel as though God had abandoned me; that He’d forgotten me. I felt like no one was looking. And even during those brighter moments when I felt my faith come alive, it still felt like no one really noticed. I mean, my friends were off to college; kids went back to work. My perseverance didn't seem to be benefiting anyone.
But then a friend opened his Bible to Ephesians 3:10, and this is what he read: “[God’s] intent is now that, through the church, [His] manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” I said, “Say what?” And my friend explained. He said the powers and principalities, all the heavenly hosts and dark rulers of the universe, millions of unseen beings, were intensely interested to see just how able God is to sustain the weak and weary. “And you, Joni,” he said, “you are God’s chalkboard.”
He went on to say that Ephesians 3 tells us that God teaches the unseen world all about Himself and He does it using you and me as His audiovisual aids. When we respond with trust in the middle of a trial, when we hold on to hope and believe God’s Word, even when it’s hard, we are being used of the Lord to show the universe how great, and how awesome, and how wonderful He and His grace really are. And this is how it works; okay, here it is: Let’s say some demon dares to waltz up to heaven’s throne, and he sneers, “God, people only trust you because you bless them with health and strength. But let me put a kink in the lower back of some missionary. And then you allow me to take away his financial support. Allow me to create some problem with his sending agency. And then, I’d just bet that missionary would end up denying you.” But God would answer, “Uh-uh; you’re wrong, Satan. Because that exact scenario happened to Mr. Brown, and he trusted me. I worked through his obedience, and because of his testimony so many more people heard about my Son’s love.”
At that point the demon would shrink away, and the glory surrounding God would glow even brighter. Mr. Brown’s sufferings not only helped him to grow in Christ, but they demonstrated to that demon, and millions like him, how powerful God’s sustaining grace is. And the result? Greater glory to God. Now the same is true for me and my hardships. And the same is true for you. The challenge is, will we be faithful? Will we trust the Lord through deep disappointments and hard times? Will we be the blackboard upon which God chalks wonderful lessons about Himself? Because one day it’s going to be shown to all that God really was able to rescue sinners, redeem suffering, crush the rebellious, restore all things, vindicate His holy name, provide restitution, and come out of it all the more glorious for it! What an honor to share in that.
So, friend, when you feel surrounded by tough circumstances, remember you're not alone; somebody's watching; somebody's learning about God through you. You have a chance to be Mr. Brown. You've got an opportunity to make God look great. So be the blackboard today upon which the Lord chalks marvelous lessons about Himself for the benefit of millions and millions and millions of unseen beings. And, oh, what glory to God you will bring! That's your lesson today from joniradio.org.
SHAUNA: And friend, thanks for listening to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope where we love sharing hope through every hardship. And where we love praying for you! So, go to joniradio.org today and tell us how we can pray for you.
© Joni and Friends