A Crown of Thorns

My friend Barbara has an inkling of what a crown of thorns feels like. 

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I’m not kidding. Let me give you a little backstory on Barbara. She’s one of my Pain Pals. Some years ago she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and lesions in her brain. Sure, the MS was a hard pill to swallow, but the brain lesions were far worse. It meant constant, excruciating head pain. For the longest time, Barbara was completely bedridden with pain. She was unable to speak, unable to smile or even gesture. The slightest bit of movement made for extreme head pain and nausea. It meant that even breathing – I mean, just think of that, just inhaling and exhaling – caused her great pain. Now, I’ve got a hard time imagining life with that kind of pain, but my friend’s been doing it for years. And she’s been doing it with consummate grace and dignity. I asked Barbara about this, and this is basically what she said to me; she said – and this is a quote: 

“Joni, when it’s hard to breathe, it forces me to remember that the Lord is my breath of life. He is the very air I breathe, even when I silently gasp for breath through the pain. Just today I received 41 injections into my skull and neck to help me cope with the pain. Each time I go in for these injections, and with every shot given, the extreme pain reminds me of Jesus and his crown of thorns. It helps me know that Jesus “received” his crown of thorns. Just the thought makes my heart ring. My Savior received that horrible affliction on my behalf; he took on that trial; wonder of wonders, he embraced and received that painful, thorny crown on my behalf, and so now, as each injection sinks into my skull, it’s my way of entering into a deeper fellowship with his sufferings. Jesus makes it all bearable, and he brings with the suffering, great meaning.” 

I’m sure that Barbara appreciates that she has a Savior who has been tested and tried in every way so as to identify with her in her pain, but get this; this little story shows how Barbara is being tested so that she can identify with Jesus in his pain! Do you see the difference? Do you see what’s happening? Sure, her Lord identifies with her in her pain, but she is getting to experience a sweeter depth of knowing Jesus by resonating with his pain, with his crown of needle-like thorns. To me, Barbara’s story goes to prove that because God has written his Word in the blood of his own Son, every insight finds its fullest expression in and through the suffering of Christ. 

I hope you can see why I call Barbara my Pain Pal. From her, I learn so many glorious insights about my Savior and all the suffering he endured for my salvation. And I appreciate her focus; it is never on herself; it is always on Christ and how she might encourage others through her pain. I hope that Barbara has done that for you today. Especially if you’re struggling with migraines or headaches or maybe even like Barbara, a little MS. God never gives you or me a cross so painful that it outweighs his abundance of grace. Remember that, if painful thorns feel like they are pressing into your head! And I pray that each pain will drive you deeper into the comforting arms of your everlasting Lord. Friend, these are hard, but very good words for you today. Because like me, like Barbara, like all of us at Joni and Friends, we just love sharing hope in your hardship.  

© Joni and Friends