A Vision of Hope

Cast a vision for someone else, and they just might catch it. 

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and that’s especially true if you have a disability. Because sometimes a disabling condition can feel so limiting, so confining. Things are so hard, you can’t see beyond your problem; you become blind to the possibilities. And that’s when it helps to envision success for others who are too short-sighted to envision it for themselves. 

This has been especially true for disabled people and their families during the coronavirus. And being sequestered for so long? Struggling against loneliness? No respite care? Trying to make ends meet? Well, we at Joni and Friends knew we had to be extra creative; we had to be innovative and think of ways to, you know, lift the hopes of these families. Because these moms and dads were stuck. They couldn’t see beyond the next day. They lacked vision. And so, as we prayed about their specific needs and how we could help, God gave us ideas for very unusual kinds of ministry. One idea? We held a webinar to help families make long-range plans for their disabled kids. Plans that went beyond COVID-19; plans for a hopeful future. Yes, of course, it centered around hopeful words from Scripture, but also setting up a special-needs trust for your disabled child, and what are the pro-active tax strategies when you have special needs. How to apply for an ABLE savings account, how to access supplemental security income, Medicaid and managed care organizations; or how to deal with sibling rivalry and what are the best tools for family communication. Moms and dads loved this stuff. Because it showed them that God cares about their future; the future of their disabled children. It was a really practical way to address their fears for their adult disabled kids; you know, fears they’d been struggling with. 

That webinar gave meaning to those wonderful words from Jeremiah 29: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah wrote this at a time when God’s people were suffering – I mean suffering hard. They felt isolated, abandoned, alone. Their lives had been hijacked by a vicious invader who disrupted everything, dragging them away into exile. Dragging them into decades of slavery. Back then things were so dark, so hard, they could not see beyond their problems; they were blind to the possibilities. They had lost all hope of things getting better. And that’s when God stepped in and sent Jeremiah on the scene to envision success for the people who were too weary, too tired, hurting too much and too short-sighted to envision hope for themselves. 

Friend, we will get through this crazy season. And if you’re a special-needs mom or dad listening, you’ll get through, too. Yes, things are dark and hard, but God has plans to give you hope and a future. You’re not alone in your struggle. And if you need help believing that, then go to joniradio.org today and ask for your gift, my special booklet I’ve titled “No Longer Alone.” It’s filled with Jeremiah 29 insights that’ll strengthen and inspire your heart. Insights that will give you a vision and show you the possibilities beyond this year’s problems. It’s all there for you today at joniradio.org where we sure do love sharing hope in all your hardships.

Visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org, and while you’re there, be sure to share a prayer request. If you are feeling down and wanting to find the way up, we want to pray for you. When you have a chance today, drop by joniandfriends.org.