Whatever hardships you are going through today, rely on the power of Christ. His strength will always, always be equivalent to what you need, no matter how hard things get.
When I need prayer? There’s someone I always go to.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and the person I most lean on for prayer support is my friend and coworker, Celeste. This woman has a bright spirit that simply glows. All of us at Joni and Friends love her attitude. Celeste works in our HR department and whenever I pass her desk or in the hallways at our Joni and Friends headquarters, she glances at my wheelchair, and smiles, and says, “Don’t forget, Joni, as your days, so shall your strength be!” And coming from her, it means a lot. Because Celeste has cerebral palsy and walks with the aid of Canadian crutches. For her, every step is an effort, but she’s always ready with a good word of encouragement, like that verse from Deuteronomy 33. As your days so shall your strength be.
Celeste knows that I need God’s strength. My wheelchair is as obvious as her crutches, and we both rely on the power of Christ to always be equivalent to what we need, no matter how hard the day may be, no matter what we are going through. The promise in Deuteronomy is that we will have strength – God's strength. Strength that is equal to our tasks or our need for that moment. It’s a big reason why Celeste and I delight in the Lord Jesus. We look at our limitations and the pain and we know that all of it makes room for Jesus to display his own invincible strength, whether it’s through Celeste’s cerebral palsy or my quadriplegia. Our needs can never, ever outpace the resources of Christ. The same Jesus who promises to be our strength is the same one who upholds all things, even the universe – he upholds it all by the power of his word. And if Jesus can do that? He can more-than-sustain Celeste with her CP and me in my wheelchair.
By the way, there is always a special day at Joni and Friends when I seek out the help and prayer support of Celeste. It’s when I record these radio programs. If you follow me on social media, you know I am always asking for prayer support, right? That I have got enough breath, energy, stamina, clear lungs, clear voice, and an anointing from God, and most of all, “his strength” to get through a full day of recording. And if you were here right now with me in the radio recording studio, you would see Celeste [hello Celeste!] sitting in the control room – praying. Often, I have got to stop and catch my breath in between, you know, these programs. Or I’ve got to tighten my binder that helps me breathe. And I’ll look at Celeste through the glass of the control room and I’ll say, “Are you praying in there?” And she will give me a thumbs up and I’ll hear those familiar words, “as your days, so your strength shall be!” Oh, she is such an encouragement, such a comfort.
Well, in honor of March being “National Cerebral Palsy Month,” I would love for you to see a photo of my friend Celeste and I’ve posted a great snapshot today on my radio page at joniradio.org. And please, encourage her with your prayers as she deals with the encroaching limitations of cerebral palsy. And if you’d like to see who you’re praying for, again, visit joniradio.org to see this woman with her great smile. Yep, she’s my Deuteronomy 33 pal. And the promise is valid for you, too; whatever hardships you are going through today, rely on the equivalent power of Christ because his strength will always, always be equal to what you need, no matter how hard things get. Those are hopeful words for you today from Deuteronomy. So, see you later at joniradio.org. Again, that’s joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends