Joni: Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a life lesson from 1 Corinthians 1:27. And it may be a Bible verse that you have memorized, you’ve put to heart. God chooses the weak things of this world to shame the strong. That’s why God chooses the weak things of this world. Is that you? Are you feeling weak today? Are you feeling limited? Can it be that you are fearful about falling short of God’s expectations? Do you wish things were different? Do you know that God has chosen you? I have a friend in the studio today – Nick Vujicic a good friend – perhaps you know of his story. This Australian man was born over 30 years ago without arms or legs, yet God chose him in his weakness for an incredible purpose.
Joni: Nick, welcome to the studio.
Nick: Joni, I love you so much. Thanks for having me here.
Joni: You are kind to say that. And Nick, as I was saying a moment ago, I just know there are some people, I mean here we are in our in our wheelchairs. You’ve got no arms; you’ve got no legs; I have arms and legs, but they don’t work. We are both limited. We both can’t reach for things; we can’t walk or run and yet it amazes me – doesn’t it you – that God has chosen us. We both have ministries that are a global influence; we both love speaking about Jesus. How did we get here? How did you get here?
Nick: By the grace of God. You and I know it’s not about our capabilities, it’s about our availability. And if He can use Joni and Nick He can use anyone.
Joni: Absolutely! I know there are friends listening and they don’t have to be paralyzed, they don’t have to have other limitations, physical limitations, they might have emotional limitations. They might feel handicapped by fear or paralyzed by their life circumstances. How did you get where you are today? What advice can you give our friend listening?
Nick: First of all, for anyone listening who maybe has a family member who feels weak, always make your home a refuge, a safe place to land and feed on Scripture. For me it was feeding on the Scriptures, the promises of God, and knowing that if you wait upon the Lord He will renew your strength. It’s not our strength, but when we are weak He is strong in us. To know that sometimes we feel like we are waiting for our miracle, but the coolest thing about God to me is with broken pieces He can turn anything bad into something beautiful. In fact, you don’t need to get a miracle before you become a miracle and that’s the faith step that I took as a 15-year-old saying, ‘God, give me arms and legs, but if you don’t give me arms and legs, use me. I want to be your hands and feet around the world’, and he heard my prayer.
Joni: He certainly has. And you have quite the global ministry. But I have to ask you, even though you have a beautiful wife—Kanae, is just gorgeous—and a young son Kiyoshi, are there ever days when you feel like ‘I just can’t do this anymore. I feel so limited, I feel so weak.’ I know you deal with chronic pain. Are there any days when you feel discouraged?
Nick: You know, definitely when Kiyoshi was born and I wished I could hold him, I did it in my own way. And then he got a little bit too big to be put in the sling and then I’m like ‘wow, I can’t hug him, I can’t hold him, I can’t carry him’ and yet the sweeter moments I have with him become even more sweet. Now he comes up to me and gives me a hug just because he loves me, and that to me is just incredible and helps me to understand that how long the hug is and how often we hug is not up to me, it’s up to him and that’s with the love of God – hold on to Him and He’ll hold on to you.
Joni: That’s such good advice for our friends listening. Hold onto the Lord Jesus and He’ll be holding on to you. Nick, as always your advice and counsel is so appreciated. Thanks so much for coming in today.
Nick: I love you so much.
Joni: You too.
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