Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to “Joni and Friends.”
Joni and Friends is a place where you are always going to receive an encouraging word. And often when I share these stories they encourage me too. Like what happened to me yesterday.
I’d been having a difficult day with pain. Midway through the day I had debated getting out of my wheelchair and lying down, but you know me: I took a deep breath and kept on going. Well, that evening after dinner, I could not wait to get out of my wheelchair and lay flat in bed, I was in such pain. As my get-down girl, Becky, was helping me lay down, I happened to say that I “cannot wait” until that wonderful day on heaven’s horizon when there will be no more pain. Becky asked if that was a Bible verse and, of course, I immediately told her, yes, it was from Revelation chapter 21, verse 4 where we’re assured that along with no more death or mourning or crying, there’ll be no more pain. There will also be no more night, it says in the next chapter.
Becky loved that idea, and so as she was taking off my slacks and getting me ready for sleep, I asked if she had ever heard of the Gospel song that echoes the same theme, “No More Night?” She said she hadn’t, and I couldn’t believe it. I love that song — years ago it was so popular, but Becky is in her early 30s and, like I said, that was years ago. So I told her that I wanted her to listen to it sometime, and Becky said, “Well let’s do it now!” So she took my iPad off the dresser, looked up the singer, David Phelps, on YouTube, turned up the speakers, and as she put her head on my pillow snuggling close, we both lay flat in bed together, side by side, listening to these wonderful words …
(music)
Tears were running down my cheeks; and Becky was crying, too. What a glorious, inspiring thought — no, not a thought — it’s a fact, that one day there will be no more pain or sorrow or sighing or night. We kept crying and laughing, thinking about that awesome day about to break on the horizon. And what do you know, by the time she got ready to leave, the pain in my hip was gone. Friend, I pray that this story and that beautiful song by David Phelps blesses your day, especially if you are dealing with pain, sorrow, grief, death, or even the night. Thanks for letting me be an encouraging friend to you today.
And for more encouragement, don’t forget to stop by my radio page today. Whether you are on your smartphone or your desktop just go to joniandfriends.org and ask for your free CD of my Christmas hymns, because you can never have too much encouraging music during this glorious season.
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PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376