Joni has many hardships in her wheelchair, but she has a reason behind her smile. Jesus is the reason. Like Nehemiah says – the joy of the Lord is your strength and it can be yours today, too.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. And occasionally I’m asked why I can smile when I talk about hardships in my wheelchair. “How do you do it, Joni?”Is the common question. And there are many ways I could answer that, but I think one of the things that keeps me going is that, well, I have got a lot of joy—joy that stems from Jesus, the Man of Sorrows who suffered. The joy of the Lord is closely connected with suffering for the Lord. It’s why Nehemiah in chapter 8 told God's people who felt weak and overwhelmed, “Look guys, remember the joy of the Lord is your strength.” And so, when I feel weak and overwhelmed, I fight to stay satisfied, I fight to stay joyful in Jesus. I can’t do it without him. And once I sense his joy, I love sharing it with others who also feel weak. It’s the reason behind my smile and the joy in my voice—and it could be yours, too. So take hold of God’s strength and share his joy.
© Joni and Friends