Even in the quiet moments of stillness and affliction, God can draw you close, turn your struggles into times of reflection, and fill your heart with peace and thanksgiving.
Check out the poem "I Needed the Quiet" at www.joniradio.org.
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Did you know that it’s National Poetry Month?
JONI: Someone asked the other day, “Joni, when do you ever have down time? I mean, time when you can be quiet. You’re always so busy, working for the ministry, advocating for the disabled, speaking and writing. Where are those moments when God calls you aside?” I smiled when he asked that question. Because my friend is right – I literally have two speeds on my wheelchair: turtle and rabbit. Honestly, really, right there on the base of my power stick are two little symbols: a turtle on the left of the stick, and a running rabbit on the right. Just to show you, I’m posting a photo of it on my radio page today at joniradio.org so check it later when you have a minute. And as you do, you should know that I don’t think I have ever put my wheelchair on turtle speed. I am always on rabbit speed.
But even with my busy schedule, I’m grateful to God that He has built into my life those long stretches of quiet. And I have my disability to thank for that. You see, I can only sit up in my wheelchair so many hours a day, and during the week, I usually have to lay down in bed at around 7 o’clock in the evening. Many years ago, when I was first injured, I hated to have to go to bed so early. It meant lying flat and face-up for several hours until I felt tired enough to go to sleep. And during those hours, feelings of claustrophobia would encroach. Unable to move, I felt panicky and anxious. At least up in my wheelchair I was able to flail my arms and shift my shoulders; I was able to move my wheelchair this way and that, but in bed I was stuck. And I really felt the completeness and totalness of my quadriplegia, and I hated it.
But over the years, I began to see those long hours in bed as my opportunity to commune with the Lord Jesus. In the quiet of my bedroom, I was able to reflect on the day, and speak with the Lord, and thank Him for grace given to meet every need. My bed of affliction became the altar of praise and thanksgiving. And with that, those panicky, anxious, claustrophobic feelings vanished. In fact, there’s a beautiful poem by Alice Mortenson that speaks to this, and maybe it speaks to you today. She wrote:
“I needed the quiet so He drew me aside, Into the shadows where we could confide, Away from the bustle where all the day long, I hurried and worried when active and strong. I needed the quiet though at first I rebelled, But gently, so gently my cross He upheld, And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things, Though weakened in body, my spirit took wings…To heights never heard of when active and gay, He loved me so greatly, He drew me away. I needed the quiet, no prison my bed, But a beautiful valley of blessings instead – A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide, I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.”
SHAUNA: Oh, friend, isn’t that poem lovely? We’ve placed a copy of it on our website just for you. So go to joniradio.org and download the poem. It’s called “I Needed the Quiet.” And while you’re there, don’t forget to share your favorite inspirational poem with us. We’d love to hear from you. So, in closing, be encouraged by these heartwarming words from James Montgomery; words I know Joni remembers when she’s on her bed of affliction. They go like this: “I cannot call affliction sweet; And yet ‘twas good to bear; Affliction brought me to Your feet, And I found comfort there.” God bless you friend, and thanks for listening. And friend, remember that you can hear this program again at joniradio.org. and while you’re there, be sure to leave us your prayer request.
© Joni and Friends