A Fork In The Road
There are certain days that we know, we expect, to change the course of our lives… the day you graduate, the day you marry, the day you enlist in the military. Then there are days when something happens out of the blue and your well-laid plans look like the toppled tower of a Jenga® game.
For me, it was a Sunday when the children’s ministry was to perform a few songs before the service. I knew my young son Caleb would not be singing—he’s nonverbal and has multiple disabilities. I knew he wouldn’t want to be front and center or enjoy the spotlight, so I looked for him on the fringes of the group. I expected he’d be making noises along with the music… possibly annoying to some, but a joyful noise to God. I looked and looked. I maneuvered to see the other side of the stage, craning my neck to find our boy. Caleb was nowhere to be found. Signaling my wife, I headed to his classroom fearing the worst. Maybe he had a meltdown? Did he refuse to go? Why didn’t they let us know we were needed?
“…that day, that disappointment, was a fork in the road for our family.”
Opening the door to his classroom I felt a mix of relief and confusion when I saw Caleb safe in his room with a volunteer. His teacher had decided that it was best that Caleb didn’t participate in the performance with his peers.
Looking back, I can see how that day, that disappointment, was a fork in the road for our family. We realized something needed to change so that ALL children were welcomed and fully included in the life of our church, regardless of their abilities.
I don’t want to sugarcoat it or pretend things were easy, but in hindsight we see how God worked through our son’s special needs to motivate us to start a disability ministry in our church, and to eventually connect me with Joni and Friends, where I’ve served for the past 12 years. When we married, my wife and I had planned to serve as missionaries overseas. God’s plan was for us to serve families affected by disability.
“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
Proverbs 19:21 NLT
For Joni Eareckson Tada, her plans for college and beyond were upended when she took a reckless dive into shallow water as a 17-year-old. But God’s plan was to use her personal struggles and suffering to ignite a passion to advocate on behalf of others impacted by disability. Her 50 years in a wheelchair has resulted in almost 100,000 wheelchairs and Bibles distributed around the world, thousands of families have found rest and reconnection at our Family Retreat camps, and an untold number of people have been inspired by Joni’s words of hope and encouragement.
What is it you’re facing today? Are there hard times or struggles that have turned your plans upside down? Maybe a loved one is hurting or you’re in a season of life that just doesn’t seem to make sense?
If we could sit across the table from one another, I’d say, “I get it.”
I understand what it feels like to trust God but question your circumstances… to look around and wonder how any good could come from your situation. Because we’ve wrestled with these same questions and serve individuals and families doing the same, we wrote The Gospel In Hard Times small group study to help.
We want to help you understand that how we choose to react to hardship has life-altering potential. Suffering can drive us to our knees and serve as a catalyst to deepen our understanding of God’s plan.
Joni says, “When we trust God through life’s hardships and struggles, we find our own faith strengthened—and our friends and neighbors notice. When the church rallies around those in need and becomes a safe place to find hope and healing, the world takes notice.”
God wants us to understand the brokenness we all share and our deep need for interdependence on him and one another. While each of us face unique challenges, we all have one thing in common—our need for genuine relationships. It takes courage and compassion to come alongside a person or family while they endure hardships. Authenticity is lost when people feel they can’t be honest about their ongoing struggles for fear of judgment or condemnation. It is only when we admit our own brokenness that we are able to truly extend God’s love to others and see lives transformed.
I pray The Gospel In Hard Times will help you better understand God’s miraculous ability to redeem our struggles and disappointments and believe that even when things don’t make sense, we can trust his plan!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
The Gospel in Hard Times
Equipping believers with a biblical perspective on hardship, suffering and disability. From the pulpit to small groups and even in the children’s ministry, every area of the church will find help and hope in this collection of resources.
