>>ANNOUNCER: TODAY ON
THE JOHN ANKERBERG SHOW:
LIFE CAN BE FULL OF SURPRISES.
ONE DAY YOU CAN BE FEELING
WONDERFUL AND THE NEXT DAY
THE DOCTOR MAY DIAGNOSE YOU
WITH A LIFE ALTERING DISEASE.
ACCIDENTS, WEATHER DISASTERS,
CRIME, DISABILITIES
CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE
OUR LIVES IN A MOMENT.
AND WHEN THEY DO PEOPLE ASK,
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS
SO BAD?" SUCH PEOPLE WANT
TO HEAR ANSWERS FROM REAL
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED
AS MUCH OR MORE THAN THEY HAVE.
AND TODAY YOU WILL HEAR
FROM TWO SUCH PEOPLE.
JONI EARECKSON TADA SEVERED
HER SPINAL CORD IN A DIVING
ACCIDENT AT AGE 17, CAUSING
HER PARAPLEGIA. SHE HAS BEEN
CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR
FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.
AND ON TOP OF THAT SHE HAS
CONTRACTED BREAST CANCER
AND SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC PAIN
EVERY DAY.
DR. MICHAEL EASLEY WAS
PRESIDENT OF MOODY BIBLE
INSTITUTE. BUT RESIGNED WHEN
HE BEGAN EXPERIENCING
TREMENDOUS BACK PAIN.
HIS MISERY LED TO
PAINFUL OPERATIONS WHERE
DOCTORS EVENTUALLY TOOK OUT
ALL OF HIS DISCS AND FUSED
ALL OF THE BONES IN
HIS SPINAL COLUMN TO SAVE
HIS LIFE. HE NOW IS THE LEAD
PASTOR AT FELLOWSHIP BIBLE
CHURCH IN BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE.
BUT HE LIVES WITH CHRONIC PAIN
EVERY DAY.
THESE TWO WILL ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING
THE TOPIC:
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS?"
JOIN US FOR
THIS SPECIAL EDITION
OF THE JOHN ANKERBERG SHOW.
>>JOHN ANKERBERG: WELCOME TO
OUR PROGRAM,
I'M JOHN ANKERBERG,
THANKS FOR JOINING ME.
AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD,
WE'VE GOT TWO GREAT
GUESTS, JONI EARECKSON TADA,
DR. MICHAEL EASLEY. AND WE'RE
GOING TO START OFF WITH
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,
LIFE'S FULL OF SURPRISES.
WE HAVE A GREAT FRIEND,
A PASTOR, THAT WENT TO
THE COVE, A CONFERENCE,
AND HE WAS SPEAKING.
HAD A GREAT SERMON,
WENT TO BED,
KISSED HIS WIFE GOODNIGHT,
SAID, "I LOVE YOU, HONEY,"
AND IN THE MORNING SHE WOKE UP
AND HE WAS DEAD. SURPRISES.
MY OWN MOTHER TOOK CARE OF
HER BEST FRIEND FOR TWO YEARS
WHO HAD ALS. WHEN SHE BURIED
HER, AFTER THE TWO YEARS
OF WATCHING HER GO THROUGH
ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING,
SHE WENT IN, MY MOM WENT IN
FOR A CHECKUP FOR HERSELF,
AND THE DOCTOR SAYS,
"YOU HAVE THE BEGINNING
OF ALS."
AND MY MOTHER SUDDENLY ALL
OF A HAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD
A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT THE NEXT
TWO YEARS WERE GOING TO BE
LIKE FOR HER. SURPRISES.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD A DOCTOR
SAY, YOU KNOW, "TODAY I HAVEN'T
GOT SUCH GOOD NEWS FOR YOU,"
THEN THEY'VE TOLD YOU SOMETHING
ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND YOU'RE LIVING WITH
A SURPRISE AND YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO. MAYBE YOU LOST
A CHILD OR YOUR HUSBAND LEFT
YOU AND THERE'S EMOTIONAL PAIN
AND SUFFERING.
MY TWO GUESTS TODAY ARE ALSO
SUFFERING RIGHT NOW EVEN WHILE
WE'VE GOT THEM ON THE SET:
JONI EARECKSON TADA FROM
QUADRIPLEGIA THAT HAPPENED
WHEN SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD.
SHE'S BEEN IN THAT WHEELCHAIR
EVER SINCE. AND SHE'S GOT
MORE PAIN THAT KEEPS ON COMING
EVERY DAY. AND YET THE SMILE
THAT'S ON HER FACE JUST KNOCKS
US ALL DEAD.
MICHAEL EASLEY WAS
THE PRESIDENT OF MOODY BIBLE
INSTITUTE, ONE OF THE BEST
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS IN
OUR COUNTRY, AND SUDDENLY
STARTED HAVING BACK PAINS.
AND HE'S GOING TO TELL US ABOUT
THAT-AND IT TOOK AWAY
HIS ABILITY TO BE PRESIDENT
OF THAT INSTITUTION.
AND, MICHAEL, I'D LIKE TO START
WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAD
A GREAT QUOTE THAT WENT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WHEN ALL
THE PROPS ARE KNOCKED OUT?
YOUR HUSBAND CAN'T HELP YOU,
YOUR WIFE CAN'T HELP YOU,
YOUR BEST FRIEND
CAN'T HELP YOU,
THE DOCTORS CAN'T HELP YOU,
THE ATTORNEYS CAN'T HELP YOU,
AND THE CHURCH DOESN'T
HELP YOU. WHERE IN THE WORLD
DO YOU TURN?
>>DR. MICHAEL EASLEY: WELL,
JOHN, MY PAIN STARTED IN 2000
WITH SOME MINOR THINGS AND
IT PROGRESSED. IT'S CALLED
"DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE."
AND IT'S SORT OF A CATCH-22
DIAGNOSIS FOR PROBLEMS
IN THE SPINE. AND THE TIME
YOU WERE REFERRING TO,
WHEN YOU HAVE A CABINET
FULL OF MEDICATIONS,
YOU'RE TAKING THE MAX OF
ALL THESE MEDS, YOU'RE DIZZY,
YOU'RE BLEARY, BUT YOU'RE
STILL IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET SITTING
IN OUR LITTLE HOUSE IN NORTHERN
VIRGINIA. I HAD TEARS RUNNING
OFF MY JAW, IN SO MUCH PAIN,
INTRACTABLE. AND I LOOKED
AT CINDY AND SAID,
"I UNDERSTAND NOW WHY PEOPLE
WOULD TAKE THEIR LIVES."
I WANTED TO JUMP OFF A BRIDGE.
NOW, I NEVER WOULD,
BUT IT TRULY CROSSED MY MIND.
I GOT IT. AND WHEN YOU GET TO
THOSE VERY DARK PLACES WHERE
A FRIEND OF JONI'S AND MINE
SAYS YOU HAVE THREE THINGS
IN A DARK TUNNEL:
ME, GOD, AND PAIN.
AND WHEN THE PROPS ARE KNOCKED
OUT, YOUR FAITH EITHER BECOMES
REAL, OR I,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU TURN.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
AND YOU SAID THAT YOU NEVER
ASKED GOD TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU,
YOU JUST SAID, "HOW AM I TO
LIVE WITH THIS CONSTANT PAIN?"
WHAT ANSWERS DID YOU GET?
>>EASLEY: YOU KNOW, I NEVER
ASKED WHY, AND I STILL HAVEN'T
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
I, I, I DESERVE HELL.
I, I DESERVE HIS CONDEMNATION;
I KNOW THAT FROM THE LITTLE
BIT I KNOW OF SCRIPTURE.
BUT FOR ME IT WAS, "OKAY, LORD,
IF THIS IS MY NEW LOT IN LIFE,
HOW DO I LIVE THIS WAY?
HOW DO, HOW AM I NOT BITTER
TO PEOPLE AROUND ME?
HOW DO I NOT BLAME OTHERS?
HOW AM I KIND AND CIVIL?
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BE
THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WANT ME
TO BE? AND HEBREWS CHAPTER 4
WAS A CHAPTER THAT
REALLY OPENED UP FOR ME.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
LET ME READ IT FOR YOU,
THEN I WANT YOU TO UNPACK THIS,
OKAY? YOU SAID THIS IS ONE OF
YOUR FAVORITE VERSES THAT GOD
BROUGHT YOU TO. HEBREWS 4:14,
"THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE
A GREAT HIGH PRIEST, WHO HAS
GONE THROUGH THE HEAVENS,
JESUS THE SON OF GOD, LET US
HOLD FIRMLY TO THE FAITH
WE PROFESS. FOR WE DO NOT HAVE
A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO
SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES,
BUT WE HAVE ONE WHO HAS BEEN
TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY JUST AS
WE ARE, YET WAS WITHOUT SIN.
THEN LET US APPROACH THE THRONE
OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE
SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE A COUPLE
OF THINGS, MERCY AND FIND GRACE
TO HELP US IN OUR TIME
OF NEED." UNPACK THAT FOR US.
>>EASLEY: FIRST OF ALL,
THE HIGH PRIEST IS
OUR INTERCESSOR. AND NO MATTER
WHAT OUR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND,
WHETHER WE GREW UP IN A CULTURE
THAT DID OR DIDN'T TEACH US
ABOUT GOD, THERE'S SOMETHING
INTRINSIC IN OUR HEART THAT
WE, WE WANT TO TALK TO
"THE BIG GUY." WE WANT TO KNOW WE CAN
GET TO HIM. AND THIS PASSAGE
IN HEBREWS EXPLAINS CLEARLY
THAT WE DON'T NEED
ANY INTERMEDIATOR;
WE HAVE THE HIGH PRIEST.
NOW, WE KNOW THAT
HE'S THE GOD-MAN, FULLY GOD,
FULLY MAN. THAT'S A BIG IDEA.
BUT THE CONCEPT IS THAT
HE COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDS
WHERE I'VE COME FROM, WHO
I AM, BECAUSE HE HIMSELF HAS
EXPERIENCED THOSE SAME KIND OF
THINGS. SO HERE'S SOMEONE THAT
KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE GONE
THROUGH IN WAYS WE CAN'T EVEN
MEASURE. SO, FIRST, THE GREAT
HIGH PRIEST; SECOND, TO HOLD
FAST TO OUR CONFESSION,
TO OUR BELIEF THAT,
WHAT DID I BELIEVE WHEN
I TRUSTED IN CHRIST AND CHRIST
ALONE? THAT HE LIVED,
THAT HE DIED, HE WAS BURIED,
HE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD.
AND ANY AND ALL WHO TRUST
IN CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE ARE
PROMISED A FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL
LIFE. THAT'S THE BENCHMARK,
THAT'S THE BEDROCK.
SO NO MATTER WHAT MY EXPERIENCE
TRIES TO TELL ME, I WANT TO GO
BACK TO, WHAT DID I BELIEVE?
WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE TELL ME
ABOUT THIS JESUS?
HE'S MY INTERMEDIARY TO GOD;
HE HAS SYMPATHIZED WITH ME
COMPLETELY; I CAN TURN TO HIM.
AND THE TWO OUTCOMES,
GRACE AND MERCY,
ARE INTERESTING CONCEPTS.
GRACE IS UNDESERVED FAVOR
IN THE FACE OF DESERVED WRATH.
NONE OF US IS BETTER THAN
THE OTHER ONE, WE ALL DESERVE
WRATH. WE, WE MAY THINK WE ARE
A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN
SOME OTHERS, BUT WE'RE NOT.
AND SO GRACE IS UNDESERVED
FAVOR, WE, WE DON'T EVER MERIT
IT, WE CAN'T EARN IT, WE CAN'T
BE BETTER THAN SOMEONE ELSE.
AND MERCY IS, IS JUSTICE
WITHHELD, JUSTICE SUSPENDED.
SO A POLICE OFFICER PULLS
YOU OR ME OVER-YOU MORE LIKELY
THAN ME-PULLS YOU OVER, SAYS,
"JOHN, YOU WERE SPEEDING."
AND YOU SAY, "OKAY, I WAS."
AND HE SAYS, "I'M GOING TO LET
YOU OFF THIS TIME."
LAW WOULD GIVE YOU A TICKET AND
A PUNISHMENT AND A PENALTY OF
SOME KIND, BUT MERCY WOULD
SUSPEND THE JUSTICE, "I'M NOT
GOING TO PENALIZE YOU NOW."
AND THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS
IS SAYING WE DRAW NEAR TO HIM
BECAUSE HE EMPATHIZES,
HE KNOWS, AND HE'LL GIVE US
THAT GRACE AND SUSPENDED
JUSTICE IN TIME OF NEED.
AND THAT PACKAGE,
IT'S A LOT; THAT PACKAGE
HELPED ME A LOT, JOHN,
IN TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER:
I DRAW NEAR TO HIM;
HE UNDERSTANDS COMPLETELY;
THERE'S NOTHING I'VE GONE
THROUGH THAT HE CAN'T
COMPLETELY COMPREHEND.
HE KNOWS. AND FROM THERE
I APPEAL FOR THAT GRACE
AND MERCY.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THIS: HE SYMPATHIZES WITH US,
HE EMPATHIZES WITH US,
AND UNPACK THAT JUST
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>>EASLEY: YEAH, THE GREEK
WORDS, SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY
WE GUM UP IN ENGLISH A LITTLE
BIT. BUT IT'S REALLY "FEELING
ALONG WITH;" THAT HE KNOWS
COMPLETELY... THE GRIEF THAT
HE BORE IS SO MUCH MORE
EXPONENTIAL THAN YOU OR I.
BUT THERE'S A SENSE IN WHICH
ANY PAIN, ANY DISAPPOINTMENT,
ANY HEARTBREAK THAT A HUMAN
EXPERIENCES, HE KNOWS THIS
ALREADY. IT'S NOT NEW TO HIM,
"OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE,
HUMAN BEINGS, COULD SUFFER
THAT WAY." AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
FOR US AS HUMANS
TO GRAPPLE WITH WHAT
CHRIST ENDURED ON CALVARY WHEN
THE WRATH OF GOD POURED OUT
FROM HEAVEN ON HIS ONLY SON AND
HE ACTUALLY TURNS HIMSELF AWAY.
AND WE HAVE THE WORDS RECORDED
WHERE CHRIST SAID, "MY GOD,
MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN
ME?" WE, WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND
AN IMMEASURABLE AMOUNT OF WHAT
THE SUFFERING CHRIST ENDURED
THERE. BUT THAT GIVES US
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FACT THAT
THIS HIGH PRIEST HAS ENDURED
EVERY PAIN, EVERY
DISAPPOINTMENT, EVERY ABUSE,
EVERYTHING WE COULD EVER
ENVISION, ALL THE MORE.
SO THIS HIGH PRIEST UNDERSTANDS
US; HE'S OUR INTERCESSORY
TO GOD; HE'S THE GOD-MAN;
HE EMPATHIZES. AND WE COME
TO HIM FOR GRACE AND MERCY IN
TIME OF NEED. WHEN I NEED HIM.
>>ANKERBERG: THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN YOU COME HOME.
ON A REGULAR SCALE OF 1-10,
WHAT'S A GOOD DAY FOR YOU?
>>EASLEY: WELL, ANYTHING BELOW
A 6 I'M SORT OF CIVIL,
OTHERWISE I'M ORNERY.
>>ANKERBERG: OKAY.
SO WHEN YOU GET UP THERE,
8 AND 9, AND YOU COME HOME
AND CINDY KNOWS, YOU GO DOWN
IN THE BASEMENT TO YOUR PRIVATE
ROOM. HOW DOES THIS VERSE
HELP YOU?
>>EASLEY: I CLING TO WHAT
I KNOW. I DON'T LET
MY EXPERIENCE TELL ME SOMETHING
ABOUT GOD THAT I DON'T BELIEVE.
AND WHEN, WHEN THE PAIN CRASHES
IN, WHEN THE DISAPPOINTMENT
COMES IN, WHEN THE PHYSICIANS
CAN'T HELP, WHEN ALL THOSE
THINGS YOU AFOREMENTIONED NAMED
CAN'T HELP YOU, IT'S YOU,
GOD AND PAIN. AND I CONTINUE
TO REMIND MYSELF MY EXPERIENCE
DOES NOT TELL ME WHO GOD IS.
>>ANKERBERG: THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT. SAY THAT AGAIN.
>>EASLEY: YEAH. MY EXPERIENCE
DOES NOT TELL ME WHO GOD IS.
HIS WORD TELLS ME WHO HE IS.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
WE HAVE IN THE WEST AND AROUND
THE WORLD. WE LOOK AT
OUR EXPERIENCE TO SEE
WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE'S LIKE.
AND THAT'S A LIE.
WE HAVE TO ERASE THAT.
WE CAN'T IN HUMAN TERMS DEFINE
THIS GOD. AND SO HIS WORD
TELLS US WHO HE IS, WHAT HE'S
DONE, WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED.
AND SO, FOR ME IT'S THAT,
IT'S SORT OF A COCOON
OF ME, GOD, AND PAIN. AND WHEN
I HAVE HIS WORD, THE PAIN
DOESN'T GO AWAY.
IT'S NOT LIKE A SPIRITUAL
IBUPROFEN; ALL OF A SUDDEN
I FEEL BETTER AND I HAVE JOY IN
MY HEART. AND I KNOW IN MY HEAD
AND I BELIEVE IN THAT
CONFESSION; THAT WHAT HE SAID
ABOUT HIS WORD IS TRUE.
IF I CAN STAKE MY SOUL ON THAT,
CAN I STAKE MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE
ON THAT?
>>ANKERBERG: ALRIGHT.
I WANT TO SWITCH OVER TO JONI,
OKAY? I WANT YOU TO GIVE THEM
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU,
BECAUSE AT 17 YOU WERE
A BEAUTIFUL VIVACIOUS GIRL,
OKAY? WHAT HAPPENED?
AND THEN I WANT YOU TO TALK
SPECIFICALLY TO PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN SO MUCH PAIN.
I ASKED SOME OF MY STAFF
MEMBERS TO ASK SOME OF
THEIR MATES THAT ARE IN GREAT
PAIN, "GIVE ME FOUR QUESTIONS
FOR MY TWO GUESTS FOR
THIS PROGRAM ON SUFFERING AND
PAIN AND WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR
YOU." FOUR QUESTIONS WERE THIS:
WHEN DOES THAT PAIN STOP?
WHEN DOES THE PAIN STOP?
WHEN DOES THE PAIN STOP?
WHEN DOES THE PAIN STOP?
THAT'S THE ONLY THING
THEY WANTED TO KNOW. THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANT
TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM GOD
THAT IS BEYOND THEIR SUFFERING,
OKAY? YOU WERE THERE
FOR TWO YEARS. YOU DIDN'T WANT
ANYBODY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
BIBLE VERSES, OKAY?
SO GIVE ME THE BACKGROUND.
START WITH WHAT HAPPENED,
GIVE ME THAT STORY, AND THEN
A WORD TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
SAYING, "YOU KNOW, I DON'T
REALLY CARE WHAT YOU SAY."
>>JONI E. TADA: WELL,
I WAS AN ATHLETIC YOUNG ACTIVE
TEENAGER AND DID RECKLESS
THINGS WHEN I WOULD
GET INTO ATHLETICS.
AND TOOK A STUPID DIVE INTO
WHAT WAS REALLY VERY SHALLOW
WATER, THINKING I WOULD COME
UP OUT OF THE PIKE DIVE.
BUT I DID NOT. AND MY HEAD
HIT THE BOTTOM OF A SAND BAR.
IT SNAPPED MY SKULL BACK
AND CRUNCHED MY VERTEBRAE
AND SEVERED MY SPINAL CORD.
AND I'M LYING FACE DOWN IN
THE WATER TOTALLY PARALYZED.
AND THANKFULLY MY SISTER
WHO WAS IN THE WATER WITH ME
HAPPENED TO SEE THAT I WAS
FLOATING FACE DOWN.
IRONICALLY ENOUGH I HAD JUST
COLORED MY HAIR THE NIGHT
BEFORE WITH A PEROXIDE, AND
SHE COULD SEE MY BLOND HAIR
FLOATING ON THE SURFACE OF
THE WATER. THAT CAPTURED
HER ATTENTION. AND SHE QUICKLY
CAME, RESCUED ME,
PULLED ME UP OUT OF THE WATER.
I'M SPITTING, I'M SPUTTERING,
I'M GASPING FOR BREATH.
THEY TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL;
THEY RIP OFF MY SWIM SUIT;
THEY DRIVE BOLTS INTO MY SKULL;
THEY PUT ME IN TRACTION ALONG
A CANVAS SANDWICH, A STRYKER
FRAME. AND I... AND ALL OF THIS
IS HAPPENING IN A WHIRLWIND
OF SPEED. AND I, AND SUDDENLY,
WHEN THE DOCTORS TOLD ME,
"JONI, YOU'VE SEVERED
YOUR SPINAL CORD;
YOU'RE, YOU'RE NEVER GOING
TO USE YOUR HANDS AGAIN; AND
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO WALK,"
I PLUMMETED INTO DEPRESSION.
I, I, I COULDN'T EVEN COMPUTE
WHAT IT MEANT NEVER TO BE ABLE
TO BE ABLE TO WALK AGAIN,
NEVER TO BE ABLE TO HOLD A COCA
COLA OR, OR BRUSH MY HAIR OR
MY TEETH, OR.... I WAS
OVERWHELMED. AND THIS KIND
OF SUICIDAL DESPAIR REALLY
GRIPPED ME. I, I WOULD LIE
IN BED AT NIGHT WRENCHING
MY HEAD BACK AND FORTH ON
THE PILLOW HOPING TO BREAK
MY NECK UP AT SOME HIGHER LEVEL
AND SO THEREBY KILL MYSELF.
BUT I WAS AFRAID TO DO THAT
BECAUSE THEN I'D ONLY BE WORSE.
AND I FELT SO ALONE.
AND I WAS LISTENING TO MICHAEL
READ IN THE LAST SEGMENT FROM
HEBREWS. AND I DESPERATELY
WANTED TO BELIEVE GOD,
BUT IF HE WAS THE GOD THAT
HE MADE HIMSELF OUT TO BE
IN THE BIBLE, THEN SOMEHOW,
SOME WAY, HE, HE HAD A HAND
IN THIS. AND HOW COULD HE BE
TRUSTED IF HE HAD A HAND IN IT?
BUT ONE NIGHT, JOHN, I WAS
FEELING SO OVERWHELMED AND SO
LONELY, SO DESPERATELY ALONE
IN MY PAIN AND IN MY DESPAIR.
FOR SOME REASON I STARTED
IMAGINING THIS,
THIS JESUS THAT MICHAEL
WAS SPEAKING ABOUT.
I PICTURED HIM WALKING THROUGH
THE DOOR OF MY HOSPITAL ROOM,
PAST MY ROOMMATES WHO WERE ALL
SLEEPING. I PICTURED HIM COMING
UP TO THE EDGE OF MY HOSPITAL
BED. I IMAGINED HIM. I DIDN'T
SEE HIM, I JUST IMAGINED HIM
TAKING THE GUARD RAIL AND
GENTLY CLUNK, CLUNK, LOWERING
IT. AND THEN SITTING ON
THE EDGE OF MY HOSPITAL
MATTRESS AND BRUSHING MY HAIR
OUT OF MY EYES.
AND THEN SHOWING ME
HIS HANDPRINT, HIS PALM,
AND SAYING TO ME GENTLY,
"JONI, IF I LOVED YOU ENOUGH
TO DIE FOR YOU, DON'T YOU THINK
I CAN BE TRUSTED EVEN WITH
THIS?" AND THAT, TO ME,
EPITOMIZED WHAT YOU TWO WERE
TALKING ABOUT A MINUTE AGO
FROM HEBREWS, CHAPTER 4. I HAD
A HIGH PRIEST. I HAD A GOD.
THE GOD OF THE BIBLE WASN'T
SOME MEDITATING MYSTIC OF
A GURU OF A GOD ON
SOME FAR OFF MOUNTAIN TOP
CONTEMPLATING HIS NAVAL,
TWIDDLING HIS THUMBS,
STAYING AT SOME ARM'S LENGTH
DISTANCE FROM ME AND MY PAIN.
NO, HE GOT RIGHT DOWN INTO
THE DEPTHS OF MY PAIN.
AND I BEGAN TO SEE THAT NIGHT
THAT JESUS GOES WHERE NOBODY
ELSE GOES. HE GOES WHERE
NO DOCTOR GOES. HE GOES WHERE
NO COUNSELOR GOES. HE GOES
WHERE NO MEDICATION GOES.
AND IF YOU, IF I, WOULD BUT
OPEN MY HEART TO HIM
AND LET HIM IN, I WOULD BEGIN
TO SEE HIS PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR
MY LIFE. AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT, NOT WITH A SNAP
OF A FINGER. BUT THAT NIGHT
THAT I IMAGINED HIM VISITING
ME, AND SAYING, "JONI,
I CAN BE TRUSTED," THAT WAS
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>>ANKERBERG: YOU'VE GIVEN US
TWO PICTURES,
DESCRIBE THE FIRST ONE.
>>TADA: WELL, THIS RIGHT HERE
IS A COPY OF A CHARCOAL SKETCH
THAT I DID WHEN I WAS
IN THE HOSPITAL. I LEARNED
HOW TO HOLD CHARCOAL PENCILS
BETWEEN MY TEETH
AND WRITE AND SKETCH
AND DRAW. I WAS A BIT OF
AN ARTIST BEFORE MY ACCIDENT,
AND WHEN I DREW
THIS GHOULISH PICTURE,
A PICTURE OF DEEP ANGUISH,
WHAT I WANTED TO CONVEY WAS,
"OH, GOD, THIS IS NOW
MY LIFE? THIS IS WHAT
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE?
I CAN'T DO THIS. I, I,
I CAN'T, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE."
AND I KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING
RESONATES WITH SO MANY OF
OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE IN THAT
SAME PIT OF DESPAIR, "OH, GOD,
THIS IS NOW MY LIFE?"
YOU HAVE A BRAIN INJURY,
PERHAPS A DEEP LONELINESS,
A MENTAL ILLNESS, MAYBE A CHILD
BORN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES,
OR YOUR HUSBAND LEAVES YOU,
OR YOU GET A BAD MEDICAL REPORT
THAT'S GAME CHANGING, AND
LIFE ALTERING, AND YOU THINK,
"THIS IS NOW MY LIFE?
I CAN'T DO THIS."
AND I JUST WANT OUR VIEWERS
TO KNOW THAT MICHAEL AND I
HAVE SAID THE SAME THING.
IN FACT, I SAID THE SAME THING
THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT UP,
"OH, JESUS, I CAN'T DO THIS."
BUT, AND THIS IS WHAT I LOVE
ABOUT THE BIBLE, IT'S ALWAYS
SO FULL OF HOPE.
AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF
ANCHORS OF HOPE TO HOLD ON TO.
AND THE ONE I HELD ON
TO THIS MORNING WAS, BUT,
"I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH
CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."
PHILIPPIANS 4:13.
I CAN'T DO THIS, BUT I CAN DO
ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST.
>>ANKERBERG: THAT PICTURE IS
GOING TO HAUNT ME FOREVER,
OKAY? WHAT WAS THE SECOND
PICTURE ABOUT?
>>TADA: WELL, THIS SECOND
PICTURE I DID NOT DRAW
THIS PARTICULAR ONE, A FRIEND
OF MINE DREW IT OF ME WHEN
I GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.
AND WHEN HE SAW ME PIECING
TOGETHER THE PUZZLE OF MY LIFE,
HE WANTED TO CONVEY, "JONI,
I KNOW YOU WANT YOUR LIFE
TO FIT, BE TIDY, NEAT, ORDERLY.
I KNOW YOU WANT EVERYTHING
TO BE LOGICAL. I KNOW YOU WANT
YOUR LIFE TO MAKE SENSE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, A LOT
OF PUZZLE PIECES ARE GOING
TO GO MISSING, AND YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO FIND THEM UNTIL
THE OTHER SIDE OF ETERNITY."
AND WHEN I SAW THIS SKETCH THAT
MY FRIEND DID OF ME, MY FIRST
THOUGHT WAS, WELL THEN, WISDOM
IS NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT ALL
OF THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER
AS TO WHY GOD ALLOWED THIS TO
HAPPEN. WISDOM IS TRUSTING GOD
EVEN WHEN MOST OF THE PUZZLE
PIECES GO MISSING.
EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW THAT ON
THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY YOUR LIFE
IS NOT GOING TO MAKE SENSE,
BUT IT WILL ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND THAT HOPE IS WHAT KEEPS ME
GOING. TO KNOW THAT ONE DAY
GOD'S GOING TO GIVE ME THE KEY
THAT WILL UNLOCK SENSE
OUT OF MY SEEMINGLY SENSELESS
QUADRIPLEGIA. AND I CAN'T WAIT
FOR THAT DAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>>ANKERBERG: MICHAEL,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW CAN
PEOPLE COME OUT OF DEPRESSION
WHEN THEY HEAR THE BAD NEWS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU SAT
ON THE COUCH WITH YOUR WIFE,
AND THE TEARS WERE STREAMING
DOWN YOUR FACE. BUT SHE SAID
SOMETHING TO YOU THAT STARTED
THE PROCESS OF YOU COMING OUT.
WHAT DID SHE SAY?
>>EASLEY: WHEN I, WHEN I HINTED
AT THIS IDEA OF I UNDERSTOOD
WHY PEOPLE WOULD TAKE
THEIR LIVES, I ASKED HER,
"HOW DO YOU DO IT?" BECAUSE
SHE'S WATCHING HER HUSBAND,
SHE'S HELPLESS TO DO ANYTHING
FOR ME. AND SHE PAUSED
FOR IT SEEMED LIKE THREE
OR FOUR MINUTES, BUT PROBABLY
A FEW SECONDS, AND SHE CLOSED
HER EYES. AND THEN SHE LOOKED
AT ME AND SHE SAID,
"ALL I KNOW IS THAT GOD HAS
BEEN FAITHFUL TO THIS VERY DAY.
WHY WOULD HE NOT BE FAITHFUL
TOMORROW?" AND THAT WAS JUST
THE FULCRUM I NEEDED TO SAY,
"OKAY, EASLEY, DO THE NEXT
THING, JUST DO THE NEXT THING.
DON'T GO DOWN THIS HOLE BECAUSE
I KNOW IT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE
GOOD." AND THAT WAS ONE
OF THE MANY INCREMENTAL CHANGES
FOR ME, JOHN, TO START
GETTING OUT OF THAT DEPRESSION.
>>TADA: YOU KNOW, MICHAEL, THAT
THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME.
I MEAN, CINDY WAS THERE
TO SPEAK TRUTH INTO YOUR LIFE.
AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE SUFFER,
WHEN THEY'RE FEELING ALONE AND
DESPERATE, HOW WONDERFUL IT IS
TO HAVE SOMEONE TO SPEAK TRUTH
INTO YOUR LIFE. AND,
AND THERE WERE CHRISTIAN
FRIENDS WHO CAME BY THAT
BEDSIDE AND THEY BROUGHT PIZZA
AND THEY BROUGHT DONUTS, AND
THEY BROUGHT NAIL POLISH
FOR MY PARALYZED HANDS,
AND THEY BRUSHED MY DIRTY HAIR.
AND THEY WERE THE HANDS OF
JESUS. AND WHEN PEOPLE SUFFER
THEY JUST SHOULD NOT SUFFER
ALONE. GOD NEVER INTENDED THAT
HURTING PEOPLE SHOULD SUFFER
ALONE. IT'S WHY HE CREATED
SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY;
IT'S WHY HE CREATED THE CHURCH.
AND THERE ARE CHRISTIANS WITHIN
REACH OF ANYONE WHO IS HURTING
TODAY. AND IT MIGHT TAKE
ALL YOUR HUMAN EFFORT
TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAY,
"I NEED HELP."
BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL
THING TO SAY, "NOT ONLY
DO I NEED HELP FROM GOD,
I NEED HELP FROM HIS PEOPLE,"
AND LET THEM SPEAK TRUTH
INTO YOUR LIFE: THAT INDEED
GOD IS GOING TO BE THERE
WITH YOU IN THAT PAIN.
HE WAS WOUNDED, JESUS WAS
WOUNDED WITH ALL YOUR MISERIES
SO THAT HE MIGHT BE YOUR
MERCIFUL HIGH PRIEST AND BE
YOUR ADVOCATE BEFORE THE FATHER
AND CHAMPION YOUR CAUSE AND
POUR OUT HIS GRACE AND INFUSE
HIS PEACE AND HIS POWER AND
PERSPECTIVE. ALL IT TAKES
IS A STEP OF FAITH, MUSTARD
SEED SIZE THOUGH IT MIGHT BE,
IT CAN BE AS SMALL AS
YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
BUT GOD, MY GOODNESS YOU GIVE
HIM AN INCH, HE'LL TAKE A MILE.
AND HE'LL MAKE SO MUCH OF THAT
STEP OF FAITH ON YOUR PART
TO INFUSE HIS HOPE
AND HIS ENCOURAGEMENT.
TAKES TIME, BUT IT'LL HAPPEN.
>>ANKERBERG: MICHAEL,
FINISH THIS UP.
WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE
THE PERSON THAT HAS HAD THE BIG
SURPRISE, HAS LISTENED TO WHAT
WE'VE SAID. HOW DO THEY START?
>>EASLEY: YOU HAVE TO COME
TO THE END OF YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
YOU'VE GOT TO GET HELP.
YOU NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU.
AND TO TAG ON WHAT JONI JUST
SAID, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE
WIRED IN THE, IN THE BODY
TO BE HELPERS AND IT'S HARD
FOR SELF-SUFFICIENT PEOPLE
TO ACCEPT THAT. AND FOR SOME
OF US THAT'S MORE CHALLENGING
THAN OTHERS,
TO ASK FOR THAT HELP.
BUT TURNING TO CHRIST,
HE IS THE HIGH PRIEST.
HUMANITY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH
AND THEY CAN DO A LOT.
BUT DEEP IN THE CORE
WHERE WE ACHE AND NOTHING CAN
ADDRESS, DEEP IN OUR HEARTS,
DEEP IN OUR HEAD,
WHEN NO ONE CAN QUITE
GET THERE WITH THE RIGHT
MEDICATION, CHRIST LOVES YOU.
AND HE IS THAT HIGH PRIEST,
HE IS THAT PERFECT INTERCESSOR;
AND TO PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM,
TO TURN TO HIM,
AND HE WILL NOT FAIL.
>>ANKERBERG: FOLKS, WE'RE JUST
GETTING STARTED ON THIS.
AND NEXT WEEK I'M GOING TO ASK
JONI AND MICHAEL TO TALK ABOUT
HOW GOD HAS HELPED THEM FACE
DEPRESSION AND DISCOURAGEMENT.
BECAUSE EVEN WITH ALL THAT
YOU'VE SAID TODAY THERE HAVE
BEEN TIMES WHEN YOU BOTH HAVE
HIT THE WALL AND YOU'VE GOT
INTO DEPRESSION AND
DISCOURAGEMENT.
GOD HAS HELPED YOU.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY, HOW,
HOW IT HAPPENED, OKAY?
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
AND I WANT THIS FOR YOU FOLKS
THAT ARE AT HOME THAT
ARE LISTENING. THIS IS WHAT
WE ALL EXPERIENCE.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US THEN.
>>ANKERBERG: YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE WHO IS
SUFFERING TODAY. AND THROUGH
THE YEARS I HAVE TAPED
DIFFERENT SERIES WITH JONI
AND MICHAEL AND AFTERWARDS
WHEN EDITING THEM, I REALIZED
I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY GIVE
MORE PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT GOD, PAIN AND SUFFERING
THAT HAS IMPACTED ME MORE THAN
WHAT THESE TWO HAVE SAID.
SO FIRST TODAY I WANT TO SHARE
3 SPECIAL PROGRAMS OF THEIRS
THAT HAVE IMPACTED ME.
I CALL THEM:
"ANKERBERG'S CHOICE," AND I AM
GOING TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE
TO YOU ON DVD FOR A GIFT
OF JUST $30.
THEN SECOND, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION
IN OUR NEW SERIES THAT YOU ARE
LISTENING TO TODAY, ITS CALLED:
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS"
IT CONTAINS 5 PROGRAMS
AND ITS AVAILABLE FOR A GIFT
OF $49. IN THIS SERIES
JONI AND MICHAEL ANSWER
MANY QUESTIONS INCLUDING:
IF THE LIFE ALTERING
DISABILITY OR ILLNESS THAT
I HAVE NOW IS WHAT I AM GOING
TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOR
THE REST OF MY LIFE,
HOW DO I KNOW THAT I CAN
TRUST GOD WITH MY FUTURE?
HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE
GOD IS GOOD AND LOVING
WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING
SUCH PROLONGED PAIN
AND SUFFERING AND IT DOES
NOT FEEL LIKE GOD IS NEAR ME?
IS IT REALLY GOD'S WILL TO HEAL
EVERYONE WHO PRAYS IN FAITH
ABOUT THEIR SICKNESS?
AND WHERE DOES SCRIPTURE TEACH
THAT IF YOU ARE PARALYZED,
SICK, OR DISABLED, NO MATTER
WHAT YOUR CONDITION, YOU ARE
VERY IMPORTANT TO GOD AND
YOUR LIFE STILL HAS GREAT
PURPOSE TO HIM? AND FINALLY,
HOW CAN GOD HELP YOU
FROM BEING DISCOURAGED AND
GOING INTO DEPRESSION WHEN
YOU FACE CONSTANT SETBACKS?
NOW ALL 5 OF PROGRAMS IN
THIS SERIES ARE AVAILABLE ON
BOTH BLU-RAY AND DVD FOR $49.
THEN THIRD, WE ARE MAKING
AVAILABLE TWO ADDITIONAL
SERIES: "GOD'S HELP
WHEN YOU SUFFER" FOR $39
AND "GOD'S ENCOURAGEMENT
FOR CAREGIVERS," ALSO FOR $39,
THIS LATTER SERIES WE TAPED
WITH JONI'S HUSBAND KEN
AND MICHAEL'S WIFE CINDY.
AND FOURTH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE ALL 3 OF THESE SERIES
TOGETHER, CONTAINING
12 IMPORTANT PROGRAMS, THEY ARE
AVAILABLE TOGETHER IN A VERY
SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR ONLY $99.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT YOU
TO LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY.
EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOWS SOMEONE
WHO IS SICK AND SUFFERING
AND NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED.
IF YOU ORDER OUR SPECIAL
PACKAGE FOR $99, YOU MAY
REQUEST ADDITIONAL COPIES
OF OUR NEW SERIES
"WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS?"
FOR JUST $10 EACH.
AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO GIVE
THESE AWAY FREE AS A GIFT
TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO NEEDS
THIS INFORMATION.
TO ORDER NOW, CALL US AT
1-800-805-3030.
THAT'S 1-800-805-3030. AND YOU
MAY CALL THAT SAME NUMBER ANY
DAY THIS WEEK 24 HOURS A DAY.
>>ANNOUNCER: AND TO LEARN
HOW TO START A RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST, GO TO
OUR WEBSITE AT JASHOW.ORG
AND CLICK ON:
"PRAY TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST
AS YOUR SAVIOR."
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