A Victory Through Suffering
One hot July afternoon in 1967, I dove into a shallow lake and my life changed forever. I suffered a spinal cord fracture that left me paralyzed from the neck down, without use of my hands and legs. Lying in my hospital bed, I tried desperately to make sense of the horrible turn of events. I begged friends to assist me in suicide. Slit my wrists, dump pills down my throat, anything to end my misery!
Paralysis was God’s plan?
I had so many questions. I believed in God, but I was angry with Him. How could my circumstance be a demonstration of His love and power? Surely He could have stopped it from happening. How can permanent, lifelong paralysis be a part of His loving plan for me? Unless I found answers, I didn’t see how this God could be worthy of my trust.
Steve, a friend of mine, took on my questions. He pointed me to Christ.
Now I believe that God’s purpose in my accident was to turn a stubborn kid into a woman who would reflect patience, endurance and a lively, optimistic hope of the heavenly glories above.
A new perspective
My wheelchair used to symbolize alienation and confinement. But God has changed its meaning because I have trusted in Him. Now my wheelchair symbolizes independence. It is a choice I made and one that anyone can make.
I have discovered many good things that have come from my disability. I used to think happiness was a Friday night date, a size 12 dress, and a future with Ethan Allen furniture and 2.5 children. Now I know better. What matters is love.
Good things for the future
I live with the heightened awareness that better things are coming. The good things in this life are only a foreshadowing of more glorious, grand things in heaven.
The words of this song capture the thrilling perspective that I have come to know in the years since my accident:
I rejoice with him whose pain my Saviour heals.
And I weep with him who still his anguish feels.
But earthly joys and earthly tears are confined to earthly years,
And greater good, the Word of God reveals.
In this life we have a cross that we must bear;
It’s just a tiny part of Jesus’ death that we can share.
And one day we’ll lay it down, ’cause He’s promised us a crown
To which our suffering can never be compared.
That’s why Heaven is nearer to me, and at times it is all I can see.
Sweet music I hear, coming down to my ear,
And I know that it’s playing for me.
For I am Christ the Saviour’s own bride,
And redeemed I shall stand by His side.
He will say, “Shall we dance?” and our endless romance
Will be worth all the tears I have cried.
Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.
good article joni– i bave followed you for a while now. even though we are stuck in life, it is only through God through people that we can be unstuck, i have see3n that in own life, i was stuck for the longest time and through people that God sent into my life did i get unstuck.
Dear Joni:
Thank you for sharing your struggles. I also understand what it’s like to struggle, fearful of their next day but I don’t believe we should be stuck in our circumstances but give back. Like you do Joni.
Blessings …Shelley Moore
I have suffered a tramatic brain injury for 31 years. I believe the Lord has helped me with overcoming my disability by getting rid of myself and helping others who are worse off than me. This healing only comes from the Lord.
good article– God through the church i am attending, the people did just that i got victory over suffering that i had for quite a few years, i was in depression from my owrld caving in from people who died and other sad thing in my life God healed me.
Hi Joni, I was recently diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease, I am 20 years old, and I just want you to know that through my faith and salvation with Christ, I have been able to get over this “disease” and find the joy in the Lord He intended for me to have. I would never take back the disease because it has shown me how great and powerful Christ truly is! God Bless you!
I have suffered since 1992 with trigeminal neuralgia. I have come into a greater understanding of pain and suffering in those years than all the years beforehand. I am full of joy and I know the ‘healing’ power of God while I suffer greatly on a daily basis. God has come alongside me to empower my life in the middle of it all. One day I will have a new nervous system, meanwhile the Presence of God is my portion to keep me from discouragement and from quitting.
on a mtn.top season in my life. woke up Sun. oct. 30th @ 5:40a.m. to Joni’s speaking on TV! Ah-ha just what God ordered! I am now 51 yrs.old. In 1996 @36, God allowed me 2 have a brain tumor in the brain stem. With 3 months to live, my then husband and I had to make a decision whether to get a second opinion or have the surgery right away. Well as young christains, we prayed and God gave the okay for the surgery to be done by the first doctor (after my orthopedic doctor diagnosed)we were sent to ……..tired but will be back for advice on God’s calling…
no pain no gain or more pain more gain
Dear Joni,
I hope that this finds your well on your way to recovery! “I, the LORD, am
your healer.”
Joni, there’s a family here in Longview, TX, that really needs your touch of
encouragement. JOSH WASSON is a 20 year old man, who was involved in a dune
buggy accident last evening a week ago. Number 4 vertebrae in his neck was
shattered. A replacement was installed. BUT he is left parapeligic, barring
a Divine miracle.
As expected Josh is going through the cycle of shock and anger. And not very
well. His mom can’t get him to eat. He’s very anxious.
Will you, PLEASE, prayfully consider calling him and his family? He is in
Room 1607, Good Shepherd Medical Center, Longview. The number to his room is
903 315 1607. His mom’s cell number is 903 261 5106. The switch board is turned of at 9 pm CDT.
No to put undue pressure on you, but since this message was started, Deb
called. I told her what I was doing. She was very excited. Now, Joni, I
understand that you are recovering from cancer surgery and that you very well
might not feel up to making the call until you’ve regained your strength..And I told Deb this.
Thank you and GOD BLESS YOU!
Johnny James
PS The Wassons are Christians! An added note: it was 27 years ago to the
day the Don Wasson, Josh’s dad, was in a car wreck. The results of his injury
left him a parapeligic.
understand!
Stay there to trust God. Check my story at http://www.maluti-nurse.blogspot.com
heya Joni
thanks for sharing some of your struggles. i’ve read your story and we share a similar path. i have a disability myself, (cerebreal palsy toi be exact) and recently God’s pointed me in the direction of working with special needs individuals. but its something i struggle with. i wonder if it is a case of type casting or gifting. im curious if you’ve struggled with the same thing while starting Joni and friends? care to share any advise/ tips?, blessings, Tim