Joni Eareckson Tada

Lying in bed, reading Joni Eareckson's autobiography, I knew God was changing me.  I was 19, and though I was a new Christian, I needed to know that God loved me and was Sovereign, was in control, and to fully surrender new areas of my life to Him. 

Joni's life and testimony, after suffering a spinal cord injury in a diving accident which left her a quadriplegic in 1967, have impacted perhaps millions around the world, as she's travelled and spoken, written articles and books, ministered through radio, and even drawn beautiful artwork with her mouth.  God's done miraculous things through her since her accident.  Her ministry, Joni and Friends, does physical, emotional, and spiritual good while informing, educating and giving.  And she has a unique ministry to all those who've had a physical health issue to battle in their life.

This week a special announcement from Joni and Friends came out.  Joni is fighting a new battle--a new health issue.  She has breast cancer.  Having battled cancer myself, I know that the words "you have cancer" pull the rug out from under you, and there's immediately the thought that this might take your life, and it won't be pretty.  But, also, having had cancer, (go to the link to read my cancer testimony) I know that God's grace is able to reach you there. In fact, as she puts it, she is ready to accept from the Hand of God--even His left hand--whatever He gives.  That was the perspective that I had, too, that God wasn't just taking a nap, and let this bad thing slip through somehow when He wasn't paying attention!  No, He is still in control, friend, if you are going through a devastating situation right now.  We won't know, until we get to heaven, what all of His purposes were in it, but we can know, that His grace is sufficient for this and every situation.  The Almighty, Sovereign God of the Universe loves us and knows the number of every hair on our heads.

Please pray for Joni and her husband, Ken.  Joni is undergoing tests this week, and will be having surgery Monday, June 28.  There will be updates which you can access through her site, at the link above. Continue after the surgery to pray for her recovery, as well, and treatments, and that it will not have spread.

Perhaps we wouldn't even know the name of Joni Eareckson Tada if she had not had that accident 43 years ago.  What new thing God is doing through Joni's life, only He knows, but I know it will be good.