Hear Joni sing one of her favorite hymns in this radio program.
SHAUNA: We’ve got a great song from Joni today for your journey with Jesus.
(Joni sings:)
All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Who can doubt His tender mercies
If Your life has been my guide.
Heavenly peace, divine as comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know what’re befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
For I know what’re befall me
Jesus doeth all things well.
JONI: Oh, if ever there were a song to sing as you walk beside Jesus each day, as you ask the Savior to guide you and lead your steps, this one’s it. When I sing this beautiful old hymn, I see myself ambling alongside Jesus on a dusty road, maybe somewhere in Judea. He leads me beside still waters and paths of righteousness. Sometimes I picture the Lord leading me, beckoning me up on the hillside where he preaches a sermon. “Sit here, Joni,” I’ll hear him say. And then, I will open up the Bible and read what it is he has to say to me. The other evening, it was The Beatitudes. And I pictured myself sitting on a rock on that hillside listening as Jesus preached to thousands and well, to me, too. And I listened hard, because I know he’s talking to me. Those Beatitudes are meant for me, and for you, too.
You’re probably familiar with those Beatitudes of Jesus from Matthew 5: where he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are those who mourn; blessed are those who are persecuted; blessed are those who hunger and weep.” Now, if you listen hard [as I was doing the other evening], you cannot help but notice that Jesus keeps connecting blessings here with poverty and trials and hardships. Doesn’t that strike you as odd? I mean, usually we think of blessings as material prosperity or comfortable circumstances. We think blessings are bountiful provisions and money in the bank, things that have to do with what we can see and feel and touch; things that satisfy our flesh and our earthly wants and wishes.
But Scripture—it always paints a different picture, doesn’t it? Jesus thinks that blessings are tribulations and hardships—hardships that join us in a deeper faith to him. That’s the real blessing. Through trials, through disappointments, through grief, we enjoy a sweeter, richer fellowship with him. And money does not bring that, and neither does perfect health or a beautiful home. Rather, Jesus says, “Blessed are you, if you are poor in spirit.” In other words, blessed are you if your trials force you to come to me in empty-handed spiritual poverty, needing my grace, needing my provision, needing my help and my comfort. These are the things that bind us to our Savior.
SHAUNA: So today, friend, let the Savior lead you, all the way. And if you’re enduring a hard trial, hold fast to James 1: “Blessed [did you hear that?]; Blessed are you, if you persevere under trial.” And the blessing? It’s a richer relationship with Jesus. That’s the road your Savior will lead you on each and every time.
© Joni and Friends