Even in the hard times, God shows up in ways that’ll fill your heart with joy – such a beautiful reminder that he guides every step you take.
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SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. And here’s Joni’s great reminder that there’s always a reason to sing.
(Joni sings:)
All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me on the living bread
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be
Gushing from the brook before me
Lo, a spring of joy I see
Gushing from the brook before me
Lo, a spring of joy I see.
JONI: You know, I’ve got a quick story to tell you about this hymn, especially this particular verse. I went on a ministry trip not long ago with my friend Rainey, and I decided to memorize the first three verses of this hymn. Rainey made a copy of the text, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” and while we were flying east, we pulled it out and learned it by heart before we arrived at our destination. And over the next couple of days, getting up early in the morning or heading out into our busy day, all the way until we got back to the hotel at night, Rainey and I would sing this hymn.
Well, on the last day of a tiring trip, as we were driving back to our hotel, and our friend who was driving was flipping through the radio [we didn't know where the Christian stations were]; but we landed on one that was playing some nice piano music; so we thought, “Let’s keep it here; it sounds neat!” Well, in less than 30 seconds after that piano song was over, the radio announcer came on and said, “And now the choir will sing ‘All the Way My Savior Leads Me.’” We couldn't believe it! It was a God moment! I mean, of all the radio stations, we hit on a Christian one. We figured it out later—it must’ve been WRBS since we were near Baltimore. But not only that, we hit a station that was actually playing hymns, and not just any old hymn, but of all the thousands of hymns ever written, they happened to play the one Rainey, and I memorized.
We laughed and laughed, and I said, near tears, “Oh, Lord Jesus, you are so precious; you are so sweet, we cannot believe how sweet you are!” What a marvelous way for our Savior to personally encourage us at the end of that very busy trip. He cheers each winding path we tread. He gives us grace for every trial. He feeds us on living bread! And when your weary steps may falter and your soul athirst may be, look up; gushing from the rock—the rock of ages—before you lo a spring of joy you see.
Oh, my goodness, those words are such a good reminder because when Rainey and I went back to our hotel that night, I have to confess, I could not get to sleep. It had been a long trip and in my wheelchair all day I was in a lot of pain. But as uncomfortable as I was at 2 AM in the night [or I should say early morning], there I was in bed smiling because God had given me a sign. He had shown me that day how near and dear he really is. And to this day, I comfort myself with that beautiful memory, reminding myself, even when it’s hard, my Savior leads me through each winding path. And you know what? The beauty of it all is he leads you, as well. Celebrate that and go forth.
© Joni and Friends