When you pick up your cross every day, choose to trust God. As you do, you’ll choose joy that defies every one of your doubts.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. The other day someone told me that I had [what he called] defiant joy. I knew what he meant. The times when I hold onto joy, are when things are at their hardest. Because if Jesus endured his cross for the joy that was set before him, oh my goodness, then I want to do the same. After all, God shares his joy only on his terms; and those terms call for us to, in some measure, suffer as his dear Son did when he walked on earth. The joy that is borne out of suffering is a gladness that is absolutely defiant in the face of discouragement. It is unshakeable when your pain screams at you to choose doubt and fear. Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and it is far more durable, more rigorous and rugged than most of us realize. So when you pick up your cross every day, choose to trust God in it. Because as you do, you’ll be choosing joy. Joy that defies every one of your doubts.
© Joni and Friends