If Jesus could endure his cross for the joy that was set before him, then today, give thanks in your painful circumstances, for as you do, the door may well open, surprisingly to God’s joy.
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada Sharing Hope with a word from Joni during National Arthritis Awareness Month.
JONI: It’s got to be one of the most discouraging ailments around, especially when a low-pressure system rolls in, right? I have arthritis in both my hips – not sure how I developed it, given that I haven’t walked or run in almost five decades! But I guess the hips can get a lot of wear and tear when you sit down all the time like I do. And believe me, when I see storm clouds gathering in the distance, the first place I feel it is in my hips. The pain and stiffness can be so debilitating, and if you have arthritis, I know you understand. So, what do you do with all that pain?
Well, some reach for Tylenol; some bend and stretch and drink lots of water; and some immerse themselves in a really good distraction like a house project, or a good book, or an outing with friends. Still others just put their head down and plow through pain. We do everything we can to avoid it. Pain, especially severe pain from arthritis, is something most people dread. We fear it. We do anything to escape it.
But did you know that a common obstacle to celebrating life fully is your avoidance of pain? Our culture does everything it can to try to convince us that we really can live a painless life. Our culture insists that pain is abnormal and that it can be done away with. And if it can’t be subdued by drugs, it can be eradicated through acupuncture or surgery. And if that doesn’t work, you can immerse yourself in biofeedback to convince your mind that the pain is really not there; it’s all in your head. Some people spend a fortune doing nothing but hopping from one treatment to the next, all in the pursuit of a pain-free life. But is that even possible?
Well, if you look at the Bible, you begin to understand that life is supposed to be difficult. Even Jesus said that in this world we would have trouble. And when He carried the painful burden of his own cross, he tells us in 1 Peter 2 that that has set an example of how we are to approach pain. Look, I'm not glorifying suffering; I'm not saying that pain is a really good thing, but to be constantly trying to avoid it, well to do that, is to live half-alive. That’s because God has designed true joy, I mean real biblical joy, to always be filtered through pain. God shares his joy on his terms, and those terms call for us to, in some measure, suffer as Jesus suffered. So, when we cut ourselves off from pain, we have unwittingly cut ourselves off from joy as well. And that’s the truth. When we become Christians, we don’t get a detour around problems; we get a guided tour through them. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says we’re called to “rejoice always” and “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
So today, if a low pressure is on the horizon and your arthritis is acting up, sure, okay, reach for the medicine cabinet and take the edge off your pain as best you can. But don’t think it can be totally eradicated. Take a deep breath and look for the blessings God gives in the midst of pain. Blessings like a deeper trust, a sweeter nearness with your Savior who has suffered; a dependence on prayer and God's Word; the chance to be united with him in his afflictions, and a stronger reliance on his grace. For that’s when your Heavenly Father will pour out his joy into your heart. If Jesus could endure his cross for the joy that was set before him, then today, give thanks in your painful circumstances, for as you do, the door may well open, surprisingly to God’s joy.
© Joni and Friends