Hear Joni share the significance of Psalm 18. Your time is in God’s hands and that’s the safest place to be.
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When is it Right to Die? – In this fold-out pamphlet, Joni Eareckson Tada addresses poignant end-of-life questions, taking into account the inexpressible value of every human soul created in the image of God. This resource provides a biblical framework, Scriptures, and guidance for individuals or families faced with questions around physician-assisted suicide, life-saving measures, and end-of-life challenges.
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SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Perhaps you’ve heard Joni talk about her diving accident. Well, here she is today with part of the story that might be new to you.
JONI: Decades have passed since that fateful day I dove into shallow water, crunched my neck, then floated helplessly paralyzed, face-down in the water. You know, I hardly ever think about that day, it was so long ago, that is, until recently someone asked a question about it. The other day, a visitor to our Joni and Friends office asked me, “Joni, didn't you panic when you were in the water? I mean, you were face down; you were running out of breath. Weren't you frightened?”
I had to pause a minute and think back: ‘Did I panic? Was I frightened?’Well, strange as it may seem, even though I was helplessly floating face-down in the water and unable to right myself, honestly, I had no fear. Although I knew that in the next few seconds water would flood my lungs, a deep and powerful peace held fear at bay. And I think this is why. Psalm 68:20 says, “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” Now that isa comforting verse, because it infers that our sovereign Lord is an escape artist when it comes to death. Someone once explained it well when he wrote, “All that pertains to deliverance from death, all that prepares for it, all that makes it easy to be borne, all that constitutes a rescue from its pains and horrors, all that follows death in a higher and more blessed world, all that makes death final and places us in a condition where death is no more to be dreaded – all this belongs to God. All this is under His control. He only can enable us to bear death; He only can conduct us from a bed of death to a world where we shall never die.”
Wow! You know, as it turned out looking back, my sister Kathy – she rescued me in a split second before I began to drown. I mean, isn’t that amazing? Yes, God will rescue you, but sometimes it’s in the split second. Yes, you will be delivered, but in absolutely no time to spare. Yes, His grace will uphold you, but sometimes it’s not ministered until we come to the absolute end of ourselves. In other words, yes, I survived that diving accident, but by the skin of my teeth. Talk about something that refines your faith, oh my goodness!
And it is why to this day, Psalm 18 means so much to me where it says, “The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. And in my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. And from His temple, he heard my cry.” Only heaven is going to reveal the countless times you and I escape death every day. So, thank Him for His sovereign protection over your life, whether broken necks, broken arms, or broken fingernails, God blankets you with His protection – often waiting until the last minute, but His protection is there. And finally, when your time does come to leave this earth for the next, God will provide the same escape. In the meantime, know that your times are in His hands and that is the safest place to be.
SHAUNA: Listening friend, I realize that the subject of dying is not a pleasant one, and it may well be that you’re being faced with questions about death. And if so, well, we want to give you a pamphlet for free, it’s something Joni wrote called “When is It Right to Die?” Just visit joniradio.org today. We’ll see you soon at joniradio.org!
© Joni and Friends