This is the only time in history when I get to fight for God. This is the only part of my eternal story when I am actually in the battle. Once I die, I’ll be in celebration mode in a glorified body in a whole different set of circumstances. But this is my limited window of opportunity, and I’m going to fight the good fight for all I’m worth.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
True, God hates Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injury, mental illness, autism, and the rest (these conditions are all symptoms of the Fall). Yet he permits these things to accomplish something far more precious in our lives: patience, endurance, compassion for others who hurt, and refined faith and trust in God, to name a few.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
Even at the cross, God permitted what he hated – the unjust and agonizing death of his own precious Son – in order to accomplish something he prized above his own Son’s cruel death; that is, salvation for a world of sinners. So the world’s worst murder becomes the world’s only salvation.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
Contentment … has an internal quietness of heart that gladly submits to God in all circumstances.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
When I look at Jesus’ warm and intimate friendships, my heart fills with praise that Jesus was. . . a man. A man of flesh-and-blood reality. His heart felt the sting of sympathy. His eyes glowed with tenderness. His arms embraced. His lips smiled. His hands touched. Jesus was male! Jesus invites us to relate to him as the Son of Man. And because he is fully man, we can relate to Jesus with affection and love.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
God cares most not about making us comfortable, but about teaching us to hate our transgressions and to grow up spiritually to love him.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
Suffering is arguably God’s choicest tool in shaping the character of Christ in us.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
God’s purpose in increasing our trials is to sensitize us to people we never would have been able to relate to otherwise.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only in suffering will we know Jesus.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)
God lets us continue to feel much of sin’s sting through suffering while we’re heading for heaven. This constantly reminds us of what we’re being delivered from; exposing sin for the poison it is.
Joni Eareckson Tada (Evangelist, Author)