Hear Joni’s thoughts on fear and how God can make it vanish.
Hear Joni's thoughts on fear in this video.
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Breaking the Bonds of Fear – A great resource for those who suffer from fear, stress, and anxiety. Take courage, and learn what the Bible says about a different type of fear: “fear of the Lord.” Use the coupon code: RADIOGIFT for free shipping!
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SHAUNA: I’m Shauna, with Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Thank you for joining us. Joni, you are such a strong person.
JONI: Oh, no, no Shauna. I’m not a strong person, I tell you! Let me be honest with you. Before the crack of dawn, before my helper arrives to get me up in my wheelchair, I look to heaven and I say, “God, I’ve got no courage for this day. I’m so tired of quadriplegia. I don’t have any strength, no energy. But Jesus, you’ve got courage. So, make me brave for the day! I cannot do this, but I can do all things through you who strengthens me.” Shauna, that’s the way it is.
And friend listening, at daybreak, I could be filled with fear [you know, like, will my catheter clog? Will my hip hurt worse than yesterday? What about the future?] But I stay a step ahead of my fear. Every day I turn fear on its head and in so doing, I become a person of Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Friend, if you struggle with fear, that is a great verse to memorize. So, just how does God do this? Well, let me tell you a secret which has sustained me these many years in my wheelchair. And the secret is contained in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
God promises that every temptation – that is, every fear-filled trial or test – every time you’re tempted to give in to defeat; that temptation comes with a “way out,” “a way of escape,” so that you can endure it. Exactly what is that “way out” or “way of escape?” Well, friend, it’s the promises of God. I access God’s power against fear as I make each promise of God my own. I recall a time when I was in a vacation house with my helper. And during the night, she stayed down the hall with a baby-monitor between our rooms. That way, if I woke up in pain, I could call her to help me reposition in bed. Well, at 1 AM, there I was jolted awake by excruciating pain. I called softly through the monitor for my friend. And when she didn’t respond, I called again. And then, louder. Still, no answer. I drew a deep breath and screamed, “Help! Help me!” The house was silent. And fear started turning into panic, but then I remembered Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid or dismayed for the Lord is with you wherever you go.” And so, I prayed, “Jesus, you tell me to be courageous for you; you promise to be with me. And I need you to make good on your promise right now.” And so, I started screaming the words of every Bible promise that I could think of, hoping that my helper would hear me: LORD… YOU ARE MY…EVER PRESENT HELP…IN THIS TROUBLE! LORD, YOUR GRACE…IS SUFFICIENT… YOUR NAME IS…A STRONG TOWER!
I’m screaming these things. And as I cried out the words of every promise, I could feel my fear beginning to vanish. And that is when I heard a click on the monitor. My helper came running [she couldn’t hear me because the volume was set too low]. And as she quickly repositioned me, I felt so peaceful. God had given me what he promised in Joshua 1:9. He gave me his courage. And oh, friend, there is so much more to say, and I would love for you to hear it so, please visit joniradio.org where I have posted my video on the subject of fear.
SHAUNA: And Joni if I might add, people can ask for your free pamphlet, “Breaking the Bonds of Fear” while they’re at joniradio.org. And start breaking those bonds of fear in your life.
© Joni and Friends