What does it mean to hold – I mean really hold onto a Bible promise?
Thanks for joining me today for this special edition of "Joni and Friends". And it’s special because of an amazing family who has taught me much about holding onto promises from God's Word. Let me tell you about this family. Jim and Janet Slaight always knew those familiar promises like Romans 8:28 or Ephesians 1:11 where it says that God works out everything according to the purpose of His will… you know, promises that underscore He’s in absolute control? But Jim and Janet’s confidence in God's promises was sorely tested when in 1999, a horrible car accident changed their lives forever. It was on a country road not far from their home – they were heading out on vacation when suddenly a car came speeding over the hill. Before they could swerve out of the way, the car hit them head-on.
Jim and Janet both suffered terrible injuries – lots of broken bones… but it was their children who suffered the most. They lost their 4-year-old little girl named Hope. What’s more, 9-year-old Hannah and 6-year-old Joey both suffered spinal cord injuries – their legs became paralyzed. Jim and Janet hardly had time to grieve what with their own multiple injuries. The entire family faced a huge adjustment and by the time Jim and Janet were able to go home, it also meant adjusting to two new wheelchairs in the house – one for Joey and one for Hannah.
I can’t begin to imagine that kind of loss. But from the start, this family clung to as many promises from the Bible as they could lay their hands on. By the time I met Jim, Janet, and their children, we were at Family Retreat together. I didn’t know then all the circumstances surrounding the disabilities of Joey and Hannah… all I knew was these kids loved doing wheelchair races down the hill with me. During that week, though, I learned about the car accident and the death of their littlest child. When I asked Janet about it, she said, wiping her tears, “I don’t know what we would do without the sovereignty of God. It is such a comfort to us that God is in control.” A comfort? Boy, I shook my head, amazed. But Janet went on to tell me that she was comforted knowing that God's plan for their lives must be absolutely extraordinary… that His purpose must be incredible… what with such suffering abounding, no doubt grace would abound all the more abundantly in their lives. Psalm 28:7 was one of those promises: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.”
Friend, that is a promise for you today. Look, suffering is going to come at you no matter what. And isn’t it a comfort to know that God will only allow so much pain – and no more – to touch your life? That He knows what you can bear with His grace? And that with suffering there is a commensurate plan and purpose that is out of this world? And, finally, one day it will all be made plain and you will have been brought closer to the Savior closer than you ever dreamed possible.
God's promises convince us of that. And that’s why I want to send you a beautiful 12-page laminated foldout called “Bible Promises for Hope and Courage.” This foldout really is beautiful; it contains promises on comfort… promises for when you’re confused or when you need guidance. Just visit me today at joniandfriendsradio.org and we’ll get it to you free right away. And while you’re visiting my webpage, please watch the story of the Slaight family. You have just got to hear for yourself what Janet has to say – all at joniandfriendsradio.org. And when you write us, don’t forget to mention the call letters of this station.
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