Good Reasons

By |Published On: November 13, 2018|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a hint for you about your hardships.

Somewhere after my first decade in my wheelchair, I hit a big milestone. I began to feel thankful for the changes in my life. For me, it was so new and hopeful. I could honestly begin to see how all things were working together for my good and God’s glory. I don’t mean being an author or speaker; it meant I was becoming more like Christ. I realized that hardships were forcing me to make decisions about God – my faith was becoming more muscular. I could see that suffering was doing a job on my character. I was able to stick to promises, not be sloppy in relationships, I wasn’t whining so much, and I could honestly tell I was more patient. When I saw all this stuff, it really made me thankful. I could see that my thoughts were being jerked right side up; I couldn’t reach for the common temptations like before (having no hands helped with that, right)?

Also, suffering was making me more sensitive to others. Before I couldn’t have cared less about people like me – disabled people – before my accident, but now it was a different story. Being paralyzed gave me a special empathy for other wheelchair-users; for other people who were hurt in accidents or illnesses. My affliction was also making heaven come alive, not in a cop-out way, but in a way that made me want to live better here on earth because I was convinced greater things were coming in the next life. I was amazed to discover that – oh my goodness – I was satisfied with that. I was happy about waiting for heaven.

Now, all these are good things, they are great things. And even though a checklist like I just mentioned may sound a little dry and technical, years ago, it helped answer, at least in part, that sticky question, “Why does God pile on hardships so high?” Well – hey! How that God is more concerned with conforming you to the likeness of His Son than leaving you in your comfort zone. God is more interested in developing your inward qualities rather than healing outward circumstances. So let me say without apology, that when it comes to God allowing your pain and problems, He has very good reasons. And I just outlined a few of them for you. I don’t mean to sound dry or technical, but it honestly helps to occasionally look for the “reasons” God has for your hardship. When you discover those reasons (that is, the really good changes God is doing in your life through your trials), you will be (as Hebrews Chapter 6 verse 1 says), you will be leaving the elementary teachings about Christ and you will be going on to spiritual maturity. And that is a wonderful thing. It is wonderful to be able to examine your heart and your character and see that, yes, yes, I am changing; I’m being transformed from glory to glory like it says in Second Corinthians 3.

So friend, if you have been in some trial, some hardship or painful situation for quite awhile now, examine your heart. How far have you come? Has your faith in God and His Word been strengthened through it all? Are you more patient or understanding of others who hurt? Are you less bitter? Less quick to fault God and quicker to submit and yield to Him? If you can say yes, then you are well on your way to spiritual maturity. You are on your way to becoming a stronger believer today than you were yesterday. So, pray with me a word of thanksgiving and say with me, “Lord Jesus, You are the One who holds all the reasons in Your hands and I’m so glad I can trust You with every purpose you have in my suffering! In Your name. Amen.”

© Joni and Friends

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