Tues. Sept. 21st Update from Joni

Tuesday, September 21st Update from Joni:

Whether it’s the way I sit, or my corset that bites, it can cause terrific pain — and lying down doesn’t always help. Such was the case the night before last when pain made sleep almost impossible. I was the “watchman who waits for the morning,” longing for day to break and relief to come. And with yesterday’s dawn, thankfully it did. September 20th was virtually pain free. That afternoon as I was sitting in the shade of a tree, feeling the breeze, and mesmerized by the rustling of leaves, the moment felt like a caress from the Spirit Himself. I was utterly satisfied with God: “Oh, Jesus, you’re amazing!” I said out loud. What’s more, I reckoned the agony of the night before as though it never, ever occurred (like the way a mother quickly forgets the pain of childbirth?!).
 
It was a wonderful experience of Romans 5:4-5 where, “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope, and hope never disappoints us.” Hope that is honed and shaped through the furnace of affliction is “hope that springs eternal.” It doesn’t sit underneath the shade of a tree and brood, “I can’t trust you God… I’m afraid there’ll be even worse pain in the future.” You know what? There may well be. But heaven-sent hope isn’t pessimistic or sour. It thinks the best of God as well as every situation. There’s nothing quite so joyful as “hope that never disappoints.”
 
One more thing. The news is good: my lungs are clear of pneumonia and I’ll be able to keep my third round of treatment this Thursday! Thank you for your prayers, friends… and bless you for your wonderful comments on the blog. They inspire and refresh… they foster HOPE!