Courageous Joy

Joni Eareckson Tada stakes her life on God’s promises.

by Suzan Braun

When Joni Eareckson Tada enters a room, you hardly notice the wheelchair she’s been in for over half her life. It’s her radiant smile and joyful countenance that lights up the room and immediately draws you in. A diving accident in 1967 left Joni, then a teenager, a quadriplegic. “Whisked off to the hospital, I thought my life was over. Wanting to die, I cried out, “God, if I can’t die, please show me how to live, because I don’t like paralysis; this is not what I bargained for in life!’” After several years of rehabilitation and a growing faith in Christ, she emerged with a fresh determination to help others. Now an author of 45 books, as well as an accomplished artist and global speaker, Joni advocates for people with disabilities internationally, and her ministry Joni and Friends provides aid to special needs families and training for churches worldwide. God has woven the immense struggles of her life into a beautiful tapestry displaying His grace and power as He continues to impact thousands of lives through her ministry. Joni saturates herself in God’s Word so that peace, joy, and steadfast hope flow from her heart.

“There are 10 words that have set the course for my life: ‘God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.’” Joni goes on, “My process is difficult, but affliction isn’t a killjoy; I don’t think you could find a happier follower of Jesus than me. The more my paralysis helps me get disentangled from sin, the more joy bubbles up from within.”

Now 72, Joni has lived in her wheelchair for 55 years. Along the way, she has also faced two bouts of cancer, the onset of unrelenting chronic pain, and most recently a very serious battle with COVID-19.

“Every morning I feel overwhelmed by pain and the daily-ness of my paralysis,” she says. “I often have not slept the night before and I am cranky. In these moments, I run to Jesus with my empty-handed spiritual poverty and cry out, ‘Oh Jesus, come to my aid. I cannot do this day. I cannot do paralysis. But I can do all things through You as You strengthen me.’ And before my morning routine is completed, I have hard-fought-for joy sent straight from heaven—a solid and settled joy that sees me through the morning and into the evening.”

Joni’s gift to us is simply this: She shows us how to embrace suffering and not waste the pain. Her costly discipleship during ongoing hardship can’t be achieved by human efforts, only by divine intervention through surrender to her Savior. After spending just a few minutes with Joni, we rest assured that God’s promises for us are in process, even in the dire circumstances of life when we can’t yet see any evidence of good. Her example of finding joy during the darkest times calls us to walk the path of long obedience with her.

And Joni reminds us, “What an encouragement to realize that God has reserved you and me for a special task in His great work.”

Just Between Us recently visited with Joni as she shared about what gives her joy and how she desires to glorify God.

JBU: How can you be so joyful after years of suffering? Joni: I haven’t always experienced joy and victory in my suffering! Many times, it’s been a fight to trust God— but as hard as it is, it’s always a good fight. God has many purposes in allowing pain, but one is that pain puts God’s promises to the test. Pain is the great intimidator saying, “Do you believe God’s promises?” When my confidence in God’s promises is tested, I have the privilege of proving the trustworthiness of God. For instance, when I am in great pain and close to collapsing under the pressure, I run to 2 Cor. 4:8, “We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed.” I say to my pain, “I’m promised that I will not be crushed. And although everything in me screams otherwise, I will stake my life on what God has promised. Pain, by His grace will not crush me. I will persevere.” That verse is but one of God’s thousand promises; if we would remember it alone, we would be well on our way to victory.

But if we do collapse under the weight of suffering or fall into a “woe is me” attitude, even that can have purpose—for suffering is like a textbook that teaches us who we really are and what we really believe. And if it’s not pretty? Then you have more reason to cast yourself on the mercy of your Savior, Who can transform the weakest saint into a soldier who will valiantly fight to stay contented in God and His promises.

JBU: How has your trust in God deepened over the years? Joni: Long ago, I accepted the fact that God has hardwired life to be extremely difficult. That view has helped me when it comes to trusting God, because He says in 1 Thess. 3:3 that “no one should be unsettled by these trials, for you know quite well that we are destined for them.” So, I need not be afraid when tough trials come. I’ve learned to choose to believe God when He tells me to embrace trials, “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jas. 1:3-4). I want my life to be complete. I don’t want it to be lacking anything. The key to getting there? Face your trials with courage, trusting in your wise and good God Who does everything for your ultimate happiness. And honestly, really, I am so happy. I would rather be in this wheelchair knowing God as I do, than to be on my feet without Him.

JBU: Why do classic hymns and music play such a vital role in your life? Joni: Timeless hymns contain rich doctrines of the Christian faith, and so I have made it my goal to memorize as many hymns as possible. I recite the stanzas back to the Lord at night in bed when I am in pain; the words of these hymns become a prayer. For instance, the other night, I was praying, “Jesus, I am resting, resting… in the joy of what Thou art… I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart,” and so on. The words of hymns provide such rich vocabulary for worship and for intercession. For instance, “When I survey the wondrous Cross, on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.”

I would rather be in this wheelchair knowing God as I do, than to be on my feet without Him.

Joni enjoys a family retreat event sponsored by Joni and Friends in Murietta Hot Springs, California.

Stanzas of hymns are so helpful when I am in so much pain that I cannot even put two sentences together in a prayer because my mind is so foggy. But I can fall back on words of hymns that I know by heart. Hymns provide such a comfort to me in communicating to the Lord Jesus my devotion, my great need for Him and His help, or for the confessing of my sin, or pleading on behalf of another. Classic hymns are the best!

JBU: You have been dealt circumstances that would cause most people to lead a life of despair. Yet you have chosen joy. How? Joni: When I “choose joy,” it’s not like saying, “I really don’t like what’s happening to me, but I’m going to paste a smile on my face any way; I’m going to grin and try to make the best of it.” That is not choosing joy. To choose joy is to choose Jesus, the Lord of joy. When things are happening that I don’t like I say, “Lord, I’m on the verge of discouragement and my spirits are pretty low. I need your help really badly. Please fill my emptiness right now and give me the strength to take steps forward into this difficult situation, trusting that You will eventually give me Your joy as I go.” And then, I simply look for God to well up within me a brighter attitude, a more submissive heart, and a more hopeful outlook. And do you know what? It may take a while, but joy always comes.

JBU: How can those who suffer with chronic illness find support? Joni: Isaiah 50:10 is such a great verse for people who feel isolated and helpless. The Holy Spirit says, “Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on their God.” It is never ‘to no avail’ that we cry out to God. And I mean cry out. God is doing something; He hasn’t forgotten you.

And if you can’t find community, ask God to help you create it. Community happens when we look for ways to serve others, rather than to be served. One woman I know, Lisa Marie, has complex autoimmune disorders that make her highly sensitive to touch, light, and sound. She has lived in a dark room for more than 15 years. Yet she prays for a long list of people and is constantly sending emails with encouraging Scriptures or inspirational articles. If you ask Lisa Marie, she will say she feels blessed because she has created community by finding people who hurt worse than she does. What an inspiration she is to me!

JBU: What has been your most rewarding experience as a disability activist? Joni: Serving on the National Council on Disability when we helped craft the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I remember being on the White House lawn when President George W. Bush signed the ADA into law in 1990. Afterward, our council hosted a reception during which our director proposed a toast. He said, “This law is great in that it opens career paths for people with disabilities in employment and creates ramps to restaurants and other places. It’s great that one day buses across America will have mechanical lifts.” Then he added, “But this law will not change the employer’s heart, or the heart of the maître ‘d, or the heart of the bus driver.” Then he raised his glass again and said, “Here’s to changed hearts.” That’s when it hit me, that’s God’s job. Our job is to share the Gospel. Access for people with disabilities—whether in places of work or the community—can only happen when people’s hearts are changed.

JBU: How can we surrender our lives to God’s will when it’s not what we desired? Joni: I totally resonate with this question. The life I am living is not what I expected or desired—living with total paralysis and chronic pain is no fun. But God knows the many times I have come to Him and asked, “Lord, help me to desire the life you’ve given me; help me to at least like it, if not love it.” Then I just grab anchors from Scripture and simply bolt my life to their weight. If I’m ever going to like things the way they are, it begins with Phil. 2:14, “Do everything without grumbling or complaining.” That’s huge. We read that verse and wonder if that’s even possible! But the Bible thinks it is possible. And so, I strive to do everything without complaining, trusting that my God has ordained the hard things in my life. Another anchor is 1 Thess. 5:18. It’s simple, too. “In everything give thanks” (ASV). We need to make Jesus the center of our universe, and when we do, we will more easily cultivate an attitude of gratitude, and an uncomplaining spirit. Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than that.

JBU: How do you and Ken maintain a healthy marriage and have fun? Joni: The biggest thing that has contributed to our well-being is reading through the Bible together every year. This is our 15th year of doing this, and we are still discovering new things in every chapter. We also just returned from a trip to the Eastern Sierras. A friend graciously loaned us their cabin on the lake, and I had the best time watching Ken fly cast for fish. For me, fun with my husband is learning about his hobbies, asking questions, and cheering him on. Ken’s a pretty good cook too and we have lots of fun together at the grill, inventing all sorts of ways to grill lamb (our favorite). The bottom line is that we work at encouraging each other. We have made a covenant not to nag, scold, or tarnish the reputation of the other—that alone has built such a solid respect between us.

JBU: You’ve accomplished so much for God’s glory in your life. What do you want people to remember about you? Joni: My priority is to finish well—to suffer through hard things well, to honor God in my pain well, and to pass the Gospel message on to others so they can learn to do the same. My life is all about Acts 20:24: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Fifty years from now, if I am remembered at all, I hope it is not for books or radio programs or speaking or even leading a global ministry that serves people with disabilities. I will know I have left a solid legacy if I am remembered for my walk with Jesus Christ—how I honored Him—how I trusted Him in my afflictions—and how God used my gifts to strengthen the kingdom of Christ. These are the things that make for a great legacy. I want people to say, “I would like to face suffering the same way Joni did. I want to believe God’s promises, pray more, complain less, and have a grateful heart.” If that happens, my life will have been a success.

JBU: How can we live life well with all the challenges and encourage others to do the same? Joni: Always keep eternity in your crosshairs. Every day, in every situation learn to say to yourself, “What does God think of this? How can my response honor Him?” Because everything we do here on earth, every response to tough challenges either increases or diminishes our eternal estate. Each little drastic obedience increases our eternal capacity to worship, serve, and enjoy God for all of eternity. “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated.… Set your minds on things above” (Col. 3:1-2). Believe me, you don’t want to get to heaven and smack your forehead and think, “Why did I waste my sufferings?” So, start living today as if it were your first day in heaven.

Joni’s International Outreach to those Living with Disability

Nearly one billion people around the world live with disabilities, many of them in poverty, pain, and despair. Joni and Friends wants to change that. For the past 40 years, it has been their mission to present the hope of the Gospel to people affected by disability through programs and outreaches that impact people worldwide.

As founder and president of this ministry, it is Joni’s heart to see a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ.

Joni shared her excitement with JBU about their newest ministry endeavor called Joni’s House: At the beginning of COVID-19 in early 2020, Joni and Friends did an impact study on the needs of families with disability. We quickly saw that people overseas didn’t need wheelchairs, they needed food. They were being pushed off the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder, and were in desperate need of basic supplies, including medical help. Our ministry went into overdrive and quickly established disability centers in these developing nations, calling them Joni’s House. These are centers of evangelism, discipleship, job skills training, medical advocacy, distribution of food, and hygiene kits. It’s a wonderful way to demonstrate the love of Jesus, not only with words, but with deeds. We just opened the first Joni’s Houses in El Salvador, Nepal, Uganda, and Thailand.

Joni says, “If we want to see God’s power in our churches, we need to celebrate and advocate for those who are marginalized or disabled. Oh, how I long for people to be blessed as they give their time and energy to embrace special needs families!”

To find out more about how you can be part of this global movement today, go to joniandfriends.org.

— Suzan Braun

Suzan Braun is the circulation manager and assistant editor of Just Between Us magazine and serves as a ministry assistant for global missions at her church. She and her husband live in Wales, Wis., and share life with three adult children, a son and daughter-in-law and three precious grandchildren.

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