When you embrace pain instead of avoiding it, God opens the door to true joy in every circumstance.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. You know, a common obstacle to celebrating life fully is our avoidance of pain. We dread pain. We fear pain. We do anything to escape pain. Our culture reinforces our avoidance of pain by assuring us that we can live a painless life. But to do that, is to live half-alive. That’s because God has designed true joy—to be always filtered through pain. When we cut ourselves off from pain, we have unwittingly cut ourselves off from joy as well. And that’s the truth. When we become Christians, we don’t get a detour around problems; we get a guided tour through them. First Thessalonians 5:18 says we are called to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Give thanks in your painful circumstances, for as you do, the door may well swing wide open, surprisingly to God’s joy.
© Joni and Friends