I've just finished reading Joni: An Unforgettable Story (the older 2001 edition by mistake - I picked up a used hardcopy but it was one of those inaccurate ebay listings 🥲). If you didn't already know, Joni is a quadriplegic and founder of the Joni & friends Christian disability ministry which I think is simply awesome. Her story seemed interesting to me given that I've been thinking a lot lately about how one deals with chronic/lifelong health issues and how that intersects with "life & faith".
The back of the book says -
"... a remarkable portrait of Christian faith and God's grace in the face of trial and hardship"
Billy Graham
"Joni" was written from the perspective and lived experience of a young adult Joni when her diving accident happened (think early-20s... today, Joni is 73 years old - that's 50 years in a wheelchair!!)... and so I wasn't quite expecting to read about her relationships with past boyfriends 😅. Nonetheless I was encouraged to read about her testimony of how she came to trust God through her accident, along with the help of some faithful friends, as she slowly came to accept that her quadriplegic condition would be lifelong. The grapple with God's will and what God's good plan for us can be tough - often we can't see how things are 'good' in the moment. But that's where faith comes in.
It's funny; a couple of weeks ago at my church we had some visitors from shall I say some different part of the Xn landscape. Their preacher came into our building, brashly asking: "Who here needs healing!" (... hmm well... but anyways, we still managed to welcome them and they got free lunch on us!)
Is healing part of God's will for you? What if God's good plan doesn't actually include you being healed in this life?
As a friend and I were discussing, perhaps physical weakness can actually be what makes for a stronger, brighter testimony that shines all the more glory to God and his goodness; when we ourselves are stripped of our own glory.
I guess these tough health struggles also can keep us humble and empathetic towards others! And from reading Joni I've also gotten an impression of the impact of youth ministry and Christian friends speaking truths into the lives of one another.
The last time I blogged I think I wrote on the idea of 'the stories God weaves in our lives' - I can only wonder... 💭
p.s. if you know me IRL i'm doing OK enough atm! I am told it is "early years" for me living with this condition. The past couple of weeks were definitely an unexpected 'dip' - things always seem to be up-and-down, when things are good they're good, but when they're not it really is not the best of times 🙁 Not knowing how I will be short/mid/long-term is frustrating. Happy to talk more.
Thankful for an awesome workplace being flexible enough about rest & leave, and my church community for their continued prayers.
What I probably need most is hope and encouragement amidst all the troubles of this world.