Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Turn Up the Wattage

Episode Summary

Today, trust and obey the Lord through your every trial. For when you do, you’ll be shutting Satan’s mouth. And you’ll be turning up the wattage on God's glory.

Episode Notes

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Episode Transcription

SHAUNA: Hi, I’m Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. I’ve got encouragement from Joni today on fighting a good fight.

JONI: When God points to his servant Job as a man who loves and follows him, Satan has something to say about it. He scoffs at God, he says, “Why shouldn’t [Job trust you]? I mean you’ve always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does – look how rich he is! No wonder Job ‘worships’ you! But you just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face, God!” To me, those words from the devil are fighting words. And I remember the first time I heard them. It was shortly after I got out of the hospital; I was still new to my wheelchair, still struggling against depression, still wondering how I would make it, how I would be able to trust God, when a Christian friend read me the story of Job and boy did I identify! Like Job, I thought as though my life had been snatched away from me; nothing would ever, ever be the same! 

And I wondered where the devil fit into the scheme of things. What sort of hand did he have, if any, in causing my accident? Well, as I read the book of Job, it became clear that although Satan may trip us up, he has to first bow to the Lord. Nothing bad happens to us unless God grants permission, permission with a purpose! God has very good reasons for allowing awful things to happen, and although it is true that he permits all sorts of things to happen that He doesn’t necessarily approve of or rejoice over – like a broken neck – still, nevertheless, that broken neck falls under God's overarching decrees. 

            Oh, my goodness, was that a lot for me to take in, but I needed more. I needed motivation to move forward into life. And I found that motivation in Job 1 where the devil scoffs at God. He taunts God, sneering, “You have prospered everything Job does. No wonder he ‘worships’ you! But just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face, God!” Now to me a young believer in Jesus who, although severely disabled and depressed, still wanted to trust God for good purposes in my accident; to me, them was fighting words! That taunt from Satan motivated me to remain confident in God and his mysterious purposes for my accident; Satan’s insulting words made me want to trust God all the more. 

            And here’s the point. I hope you feel the same. I hope that the schemes of the devil and his insolent, impertinent slander against God makes you want to trust him all the more, as well. For you and I in our hardships have a special role to play in shutting the mouth of Satan. When the devil insists that God’s people only serve him when things are easy and good, well, guess what? You and I have the high honor; we have the joy; we have the distinction, and I would even daresay we have a duty as children of God to prove Satan wrong. We can rebuke the devil simply by trusting the Lord Jesus through hard times. When our adversary sees you clinging to God’s promises [promises that the devil wants you to ignore]; when Satan sees you trust in God’s provision and protection, it turns him on his heels. 

So, what sort of hardship are you being tested with today? Don’t doubt your sovereign Lord who allows all sorts of things to happen for good purposes. Believe that, in the end, it’ll all be made clear. Believe that his grace is sufficient. Fight the good fight. Today, trust and obey the Lord through your every trial. For when you do, you’ll be shutting Satan’s mouth. And you’ll be turning up the wattage on God’s glory.

SHAUNA: And friend listening, for even more encouragement, be sure to visit joniradio.org today.

 

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