Hardships that Hang On
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a reflection on the word ‘chronic’.
Okay, so there I was in the hospital, shortly after the diving accident in which I broke my neck. For a while, I stayed in the ICU and the acute care ward. It felt strangely comforting to be an acute care patient. It meant that doctors were still trying to figure things out; there was hope I’d get better; that with treatment, I’d improve. Well, I didn’t improve. I didn’t get back use of my hands or legs and, after a few months, they moved me from “acute care” to the “chronic care” wing. And I will never forget as they wheeled my stretcher into a new section of the hospital where people with chronic conditions were treated, I got a lump in my throat. To me, it meant “The doctors don’t know what else to do with you, Joni. You’re not going to regain use of your body.” My condition was chronic; it would probably never go away. That not only sounded scary, it was scary.
And you can understand because I bet you have hardships that never go away. You pray and plead until your knees are sore; yet the pinched nerve in your back doesn’t heal, the multiple sclerosis doesn’t halt, the Alzheimer’s doesn’t regress, the marriage doesn’t get better, the job promotion never comes, and the engagement ring never arrives. Well, after living for decades in a wheelchair with my chronic condition, this is my conclusion.
You see, the core of God’s plan is to rescue us from sin and self-centeredness. Suffering, especially the chronic kind – is God’s choicest tool to accomplish this; because life transformation is a long process. When I broke my neck, it wasn’t a jigsaw puzzle I had to solve fast; it wasn’t a quick jolt to get me back on track. No, my paralyzing accident was the beginning of a lengthy process of becoming like Christ. And that means I can heartily accept my paralysis as a chronic condition.
So, may I share with you one of my “chronic” Bible verses – a favorite? I call it chronic because it supports me for the long haul. It says in James 1:2-4 says: “When all kinds of trials crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed.” Did you hear that? Dealing with certain hardships is a process – a long process – that ultimately will bring endurance and perseverance, long-suffering and patience, best of all, a deep and abiding joy in Christ. Oh friend, when that finally happens, the only thing that will be chronic will be just that: your joy in the Lord!
I want to help you embrace the chronic conditions in your life. It could be a long-term health problem like mine, or maybe a family situation that’s not changing. I want you to hang on. I want endurance to be fully developed in your life, just as it says in James Chapter 1. And to help you, I encourage you to become a subscriber to our Joni and Friends YouTube channel where you’ll find lots of inspiring videos of other people with chronic conditions, especially disabling conditions. These individuals are trusting Christ with their chronic conditions, so please carve out time to watch their testimonies on our YouTube channel. It’ll bolster your spirits and help you better understand God’s plan in suffering, especially when it’s long-term. It’s all there for you on the Joni and Friends YouTube channel. It’s a fun thing to do on Sunday afternoon, so subscribe today!
Thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
© Joni and Friends
