Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and you’re listening to "Joni and Friends".
Okay, here’s a question: What do quadriplegics like me (that is, people whose hands and legs are paralyzed) what do they daydream about? Running a marathon? Ballroom dancing? Climbing a mountain? Many of us who are quadriplegics have scaled down our dreams. I remember times (so many times) times when I was tempted to think life would be great if only I were a paraplegic – then I could use my hands. I would see paraplegics transfer themselves out of their wheelchairs into their cars or beds, I would see them reach for items in the refrigerator, wash dishes at a sink and quickly sort through the mail. I would watch their hands at work and before I knew it, feelings of disappointment would sink into my heart, ‘cause I was a quadriplegic not a paraplegic.
I know you resonate with this. Even able-bodied people look at others who seem more attractive, smarter, richer, healthier; others who seem to get all the breaks in life. In comparison, our minor defects begin to look like deformities. Thankfully, the Bible has good advice for people who are prone to compare. It says in Colossians chapter 2, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." Don’t you love that? The Bible tells us we have been given "fullness in Christ." In other words, (and this so helped me when I was struggling with quadriplegia) we are complete in Him. You and I, we have everything. We lack nothing. There’s no more we can add. So there's no need to compare. Once we grasp this, our so-called defects become reminders of how "full" we really are – because we have "fullness in Christ." That’s when the inferiority complex releases its grip and we become content.
I have to practice this in my head and heart constantly. I have to constantly tell myself; I remind myself that I wouldn't be happier if I were a paraplegic rather than a quadriplegic. I have to tell myself that because the Bible says I'm lacking nothing. Can you believe it?! The fullness of Christ dwells in me, even with my infirmities. And actually, an extra measure of grace rests on me because of my infirmities. I'm more complete now than if I were walking – how do you like that for God's purposes in my life?! Therefore, I will gladly boast as a quadriplegic. After all, you can't improve on "complete" can you?
But, hey, I didn’t embrace Colossians chapter 2 overnight. It was a long road. But God had given me hope. And I’ve written about this hope in a pamphlet called Gaining a Hopeful Spirit which I want to send to you today. It’ll show you just how complete in Christ you really are and give you practical ideas to help you stop looking at others, and start looking to God for completeness. Just go to my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and ask for Gaining a Hopeful Spirit.
Finally, in what ways do you feel incomplete, inadequate, or less than you had hoped? Rather than seeing these as insufficiencies, start telling yourself the truth: remind yourself that you are lacking in nothing. Why? Because Christ dwells in you. Stop drumming up “if only” scenarios in your mind and fill your thoughts with satisfaction in the Lord. Bask in that knowledge for a few quiet moments and feel yourself relax into God’s contentment. Let’s connect on my radio page at joniandfriends.org.
© Joni and Friends, 2013
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