Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and the word for today is “resilient.”
I know it’s not listed as a fruit of the Spirit, but to me, it ranks right up there. I looked up the word “resilient” and found that it means to possess a durable faith, and a pliable and bendable way of responding to hardships. To be resilient is to be able to adapt with changing circumstances, not dig in your heels with a stiff, hardened response. Resiliency is a good thing; I mean, oh, to have a pliable approach to life, to not insist on always having things your way. Oh, to be able to bend where your convictions will allow you and adapt without violating your conscience.
As a quadriplegic of more than 47 years, dealing with pain, living life in a wheelchair and having battled cancer, I am happy to say with a smile that, yes, I embrace resiliency. I remember the day over four years ago when doctors told me I had cancer; my first comment to our staff at Joni and Friends was, “Well, guys, God must be up to something big.” And what was the big thing God did? He made me more resilient, stretching the capacity of my character to not only absorb this deep disappointment, but push through it to discover how I might be enriched by it and then (and this is the best part) to pass on the encouragement to others.
Never, ever did I think I would have a message to share with other people who battle cancer, but God opened that door. It’s not a door I knocked on, it just happened. God opened it; like, last October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I spoke at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on the subject. I have a little over a year to go before they can declare me cancer-free, but I am very hopeful and I feel more resilient than ever. For me, cancer won’t win if I die, but as Dr. John Piper says, cancer will only win if it defeats my joy, corrodes my peace, and dismantles my hope.
In fact, Dr. Piper (who also wrestled against cancer) once said, “Don’t waste it. Don’t waste your cancer.” I take that to mean that God has lessons for me to learn—lessons that will not only build courage in my life, but stretch my resiliency and give me the opportunity to pass God’s courage on to others. John Donne once wrote: “No man is an island, we’re all a part of the main,” so my response (for that matter, your response to hardships) is directly tied into our responsibility toward others. Friend, as Christians, you and I are constantly being observed; we are all being watched by a cynical, skeptical world; we are “on stage.” And depending on your response to our hardships, you and I are either nudging those around us toward hope and help from God, or we are pushing them away from Him. That’s the big picture, and, oh, is it invigorating!
The Holy Spirit wants us to learn to be flexible, friend—especially when it comes to our hardships. It’s why I’d love for you to visit my radio page today and ask for the free booklet I wrote on battling cancer. In it I talk a lot about the flexibility and the resiliency you need when facing a bad medical report, so please go to joniandfriends.org today and ask for my booklet on cancer. Because if you — or someone you know — is digging in their heels against hardship, this booklet is for you. So go to joniandfriends.org and remember, when it comes to the tough things you will face this week, be resilient; be flexible and be ready to embrace the grace God sends your way.
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