All Things Through Christ

By |Published On: May 13, 2021|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program, Hope & Inspiration|
Close up of a meadow of brightly colored poppies growing in a meadow.

Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada, and listen to this beautiful hymn about our faith:      

 My faith looks up to Thee,  
 Thou Lamb of Calvary, 
 Savior Divine! 
 Now hear me while I pray,  
 Take all my guilt away. 
 O let me from this day, 
 Be wholly Thine!  

Well, that’s a beautiful hymn about faith, and let me tell you about Jessica Cox who has an extraordinary faith. She is the most unusual 25-year-old woman you’d ever want to meet. She was born without arms, but please do not feel sorry for Jessica. Her disability has only stopped her from doing one thing and that is using the words “I can’t.” Jessica has her pilot’s license. In fact, in Arizona she’s the first pilot licensed to fly using only her feet! She manages the controls with one foot, and with the other, Jessica delicately guides the steering column. Her flying instructor says that she is rock solid. She is. You ought to see her climbing in and out of the cockpit – in fact, later on I’ll tell you how you can see Jessica do this! 

But Jessica can do a lot more than just fly – she applies her own make-up using her feet; she has her driver’s license – no problem with that if she can fly her own plane, right? Jessica swims, brushes her hair holding the brush with her toes. Doctors never learned why Jessica was born without arms, but this young girl figured out early on that she did not want to use prosthetic devices. And so, she dove into life and proceeded to do all sorts of things that most folks with arms would never do. She’s got a degree in psychology; she’s got two black belts in Taekwondo. I’m not kidding – this is one young woman who refuses to say “I can’t.” She’s a woman of great faith.  

I think you’ll be inspired today by looking at a couple of these photographs of Jessica doing the most remarkable things. And you can see them by visiting me today at joniradio.org; believe me, you will be amazed. And I hope you’ll be something else – I hope you’ll be inspired. Because when I look at Jessica, I don’t think of those words “I can’t” either; I think of words from the Bible: I can! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Now I’m not saying you should be a black belt martial arts expert, but I am saying that you can pray, “Lord, my talents might not be very great; I may not be able to work toward a pilot’s certificate, but I can have a great outlook on my day today. And although I may never gain a master’s degree, I can gain greater faith from saying yes to your grace and no to self-pity. For I can really do all things – even the toughest of things today – through the strength of you Lord Jesus.”  

It’s a simple prayer, a powerful prayer and it’s a simple lesson. And it’s often reinforced by observing the life stories of others – others who are not allowing their difficult circumstances to get them down. So be inspired today. Join me in affirming that, yes, you can do all things through the Savior; you can have a great outlook on God’s plan for your life; you can persevere; you can be patient; you can achieve greater faith from obeying in the smallest of tests. And if you need a reminder, Like I said, visit me today when you get a chance at joniradio.org, and enjoy a couple of photographs of Jessica showcasing her great faith. That’s again joniradio.org. Until next time this is Joni on Joni and Friends. 

© Joni and Friends 

The Gospel in Hard Times

The Gospel in Hard Times is a small-group study that explores how a loving faith community—one body with many parts—can not only meet our needs, but also help us walk alongside others who are afflicted, disabled, and marginalized. Eight-session study guide with leader’s notes and discussion questions included.

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