A few years ago, Joni Eareckson Tada wrote an article called “Reflectons on the 50th Anniversary of My Diving Accident.”
Just shy of her 18th birthday, Joni Eareckson Tada dove into the Chesapeake Bay. The water was shallower than she realized and she hit her head, fracturing her spine. She has been paralyzed from the shoulders down ever since. This young woman with a bright future was now faced with a lifetime of apparent limitation and suffering. What would you expect her life to be like? How would you expect her to view her circumstances?
50 years later, here is what she wrote, ““...affliction isn’t a killjoy; I don’t think you could find a happier follower of Jesus than me. The more my paralysis helps me get disentangled from sin, the more joy bubbles up from within. I can’t tell you how many nights I have lain in bed, unable to move, stiff with pain, and have whispered near tears, ‘Oh, Jesus, I’m so happy. So very happy in you!’ God shares his joy on his terms only, and those terms call for us to suffer, in some measure, like his Son. I’ll gladly take it.”
Her experience reminds me of something the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:2-4 – “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”
In Philippians 1 Paul informs us that we can experience joy, even though we may be going through difficult times.
Usually we don’t think of the words joy and difficulty going together. We think of joy as an experience or a feeling we have when our circumstances are pleasant. Joy accompanies good times, not difficult times.
But part of our problem is that we have a narrow view of joy. Joy is something deeper than anything we have conceived with our minds. Joy comes from the Lord. It is a blessing that comes with having Christ in our lives. Joy is independent of circumstances.
Let’s talk about Paul for a moment:
•He is in jail in Philippi. He was in prison for preaching the good news about Jesus. Imagine how most of us would feel. What thoughts and emotions would you be fighting?
•His freedom has been taken away.
•He is unable to do what he loves to do
•His future (and his life) is uncertain
I don’t want you to miss something here: Paul is a bold example that things to do always go well in the lives of Christians. Times can be difficult. Circumstances are sometimes bad. Difficult times come to those who are living faithfully for God.
Paul rejoices because:
I believe that Paul would say to us that no matter what you are facing today, you can choose to live in the joy of the Lord. You may not understand your circumstances, but you can trust that God is up to something.
Today’s Challenge: Choose joy in the midst of your adversity. Look for the hand of God at work in your life. Decide to be grateful anyway and let the joy of the Lord be your strength.
