Strength from God

​Joni Eareckson Tada is a good example of someone who has worked to be a witness of God’s great love through dealing with adversity in her life. Tada had a diving accident at the age of 17 that resulted in her being a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Since this time she has written books and spoken often about the importance of faith in God. Christian singer Nancy Honeytree wrote a poem called, “Joni’s Waltz,” that describes the mindset Joni has taken driven by her Christian faith. Like Joni Eareckson Tada, we know that in heaven our bodies will be perfect. We can draw on strength from God during our time on earth and trust that God can use any difficulty in our life for good.

​Joni’s Waltz
Though I spend my mortal lifetime in this chair,
I refuse to waste it living in despair.
And though others may receive
Gifts of healing, I believe
That He has given me a gift beyond compare…
 
For heaven is nearer to me,
And at times it is all I can see.
Sweet music I hear
Coming down to my ear;
And I know it’s playing for me.
 
For I am Christ the Savior’s own bride,
And redeemed I shall stand by His side.
He will say, “Shall we dance?”
And our endless romance
Will be worth all the tears I have cried.
  
I rejoice with him whose pain my Savior heals.
And I weep with him who still his anguish feels.
But earthly joys and earthly tears,
Are confined to earthly years,
And a greater good the Word of God reveals.
 
In this life we have a cross that we must bear;
A tiny part of Jesus’ death that we can share.
And one day we’ll lay it down,
For He has promised us a crown,
To which our suffering can never be compared.

References:
Tada, J.E. (2010). Heaven. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Stohlmann, M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP.