Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and, like you, I don’t enjoy trials.
What one of us does?! And what one of us doesn’t pray for God to remove or at least lighten those trials, right? I was talking with a friend the other day – the pastor of her church has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer and the whole church was praying on a 24-hour watch, asking God to remove this cup from their leader. This pastor is an extraordinary man and a very gifted teacher – the church has blossomed under his leadership and has enjoyed a real impact in the community. Many people have become saved and so you can understand why the congregation is banging on the door of heaven… Lord, heal our pastor. For God not to heal this man would be impossible to them… it would be incredulous. “Surely God will hear our prayers,” my friend told me.
Her comment made me think of something in Hebrews 5. Listen to what it says starting in the 7th verse, “During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Now, what really stands out to me in that verse is that those loud cries and prayers Jesus put before the Father were heard. God heard His Son. Jesus asked His Father to save Him from death and “He was heard because of His reverent submission.” His prayers did not fall on deaf ears. Far from it! The Father heard those prayers and yet… still Jesus went to the cross; He suffered. There’s a powerful lesson right there for us; a lesson that my friend might need to remember. Because when any of us is facing suffering – even horrible suffering – when we pray, yes, God hears us. But that suffering might not be lifted. God may choose to have us drink that cup, just as our Savior drank His.
So what’s the purpose in it all? Well, listen to the next verse in Hebrews 5 because it says of Jesus, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” You know I have a feeling if that pastor is not healed of his brain tumor, he will still discover meaning and purpose in it all: he will learn obedience from the things he’ll suffer… and maybe his congregation will too. Friend, that’s what you and I can do in the midst of terrible hardship. We can obey. It’s something I learned when I went through surgery for cancer last year. I didn’t like it; I wouldn’t have chosen it, but I nevertheless was called to reverently submit. In other words, I obeyed. Look, you may not be facing a brain tumor, but you’ve got your own trials, and through all your prayers please know the Father hears you… He hears you with the same tenderness and love with which He heard His own Son. And if God allows your trial to continue, also know that they have meaning. You can obey. You can reverently submit. You can believe the best of the Father. You can let Him redeem your tears. And through it all, you will be an encouragement to others… all the same things that Jesus did when He went to the cross. And following Him on such a path, well… it’s an honor. It’s a privilege.
And, friend, don’t forget today is your last day to ask for your copy of the booklet “Winter Always Gives Way to Spring”… a nice thought, isn’t it, especially when you are going through affliction. So visit me today at joniandfriends.org and or you can always call 888-522-5664. And don’t forget – if Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered, shouldn’t we do the same?
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JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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