>>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.
WE'VE GOT TWO GREAT GUESTS AS
YOU'VE JUST HEARD, DR. MICHAEL
EASLEY AND JONI EARECKSON TADA.
AND IN THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE
GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION OF
OUR GUESTS: HOW CAN WE FIND
STRENGTH FROM GOD TO LIVE WITH
CHRONIC PAIN? SOME OF YOU
FOLKS, YOU'VE GOT CHRONIC PAIN.
YOU KNOW CHRONIC PAIN MEANS
IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
IT'LL BE THERE TOMORROW,
THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY.
AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING
TO GET WORSE AS WE GO ALONG.
HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH THAT?
HOW DOES GOD HELP YOU?
AND CHRONIC PAIN SOMETIMES
CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION.
WE HIT THE WALL.
AND THEN DISCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE
THE VERY THING THAT WE HAVE
KEEPS US FROM DOING SOME
OF THE THINGS WE USED TO DO,
ALRIGHT? MICHAEL, I WANT TO
START OFF WITH THE "WHY"
QUESTION IN THIS PROGRAM FIRST.
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW US
TO SUFFER, PERIOD?
>>DR. MICHAEL EASLEY: LOTS OF
REASONS, LET ME DISTILL THEM
TO THREE. NUMBER ONE,
I THINK SOMETIMES OUR SIN,
OUR INDIVIDUAL SIN DOES
AND CAN BRING SUFFERING.
NOT ALWAYS,
NOT ONE TO ONE, BUT BECAUSE
WE'RE FALLEN CREATURES WE SIN,
WE FAIL, WE MISS THE MARK.
AND ON OCCASION WE DO HAVE
A ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIP
WITH LIVING A LIFESTYLE OF SIN.
GOD MAY INDEED INJECT PAIN
INTO OUR EXPERIENCES, TO GET
OUR ATTENTION. AS C.S. LEWIS
ROUGHLY PARAPHRASED,
PAIN PLANTS THE FLAG
OF SURRENDER IN
THE FORTRESS OF A REBEL HEART.
SO IF I'M SINNING, THAT'S ONE
WAY HE GETS OUR ATTENTION.
SECONDLY, WE'RE FALLEN
CREATURES IN A FALLEN CONTEXT.
FROM THE TIME ADAM AND
THE WOMAN ATE AND VIOLATED
THE PROHIBITION IN THE GARDEN,
EVERYTHING FELL, IT COLLAPSED.
AND SO, MANY OF US WEAR
GLASSES, MANY OF US HAVE
ARTHRITIS, MANY OF US HAVE
ACHES AND PAINS AS WE AGE.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE SINNING
NECESSARILY, ONE-TO-ONE
CORRELATION, BUT WE'RE FALLEN
PEOPLE IN A FALLEN CONTEXT.
AND THIRD, AND MOST
UNCOMFORTABLE, SOMETIMES
HE ALLOWS IT FOR REASONS WE
CAN'T QUANTIFY,
BUT I DO BELIEVE HE ALLOWS IT
FOR GREATER PURPOSES,
OR IMPERCEPTIBLE` REASONS
WE MAY NOT KNOW.
AND AS A SUFFERER IN CHRONIC
PAIN OR DISABILITY, WE HAVE TO
MAKE A CHOICE, HOW AM I GOING
TO WALK THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE
THING, KNOWING THAT GOD'S GOOD
AND LOVING, BUT MY LIFE SURE
DOESN'T SEEM GOOD AND LOVING
RIGHT NOW?
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
A VERSE THAT COMES TO MY MIND
IS, "FOR IT HAS BEEN GRANTED
TO YOU ON BEHALF OF CHRIST NOT
ONLY TO BELIEVE ON HIM, BUT
ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIM, SINCE
YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME
STRUGGLE YOU SAW I HAD,"
PAUL SAYS, "AND NOW HEAR THAT
I STILL HAVE." OR ACTS 14:22,
"WE MUST GO THROUGH MANY
HARDSHIPS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM
OF GOD." OR 2 CORINTHIANS 1:5,
"FOR JUST AS THE SUFFERINGS
OF CHRIST FLOW OVER INTO
OUR LIVES, SO ALSO THROUGH
CHRIST OUR COMFORT OVERFLOWS."
YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON
THOSE THREE?
>>EASLEY: WELL, TO LOOK AT
PAUL'S LIFE IN THAT LENS,
I MEAN, WE WANT TO GO BACK TO
DAMASCUS ROAD, WE WANT TO GO
BACK TO HIS CALL PERHAPS, AND
AND ANANIAS.
>>ANKERBERG: IT'S A GREAT
STORY. IT'S A GREAT
ILLUSTRATION.
>>EASLEY: IT'S A HORRIBLE
STORY.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH, I KNOW.
>>EASLEY: IT'S, IT'S A GREAT
HORRIBLE STORY. BUT...
>>ANKERBERG: WHO'S,
WHO'S ANANIAS, FIRST OF ALL?
>>EASLEY: WELL, SAUL, OF
COURSE, IS GOING AFTER WITH
PAPERS ESSENTIALLY TO
INCARCERATE CHRISTIANS WHO ARE
FOLLOWING THE WAY. SO HE'S ON
HIS WAY TO DAMASCUS, AND GOD
STRIKES HIM BLIND. ANANIAS IS
THIS PROPHET WHO'S MINDING
HIS OWN BUSINESS.
>>EASLEY: HE'S AT HOME BEING
A LITTLE PROPHET, WHATEVER
THEY DID. AND GOD SPEAKS TO HIM
AND SAYS, "I WANT YOU TO GO
TALK TO THIS MAN SAUL
WHO'S IN PRISON." LET ME JUST
READ A PORTION OF IT.
"ANANIAS ANSWERED,
'LORD, I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY
ABOUT THIS MAN,
HOW MUCH HARM HE DID TO
YOUR SAINTS IN JERUSALEM.
AND HERE HE HAS AUTHORITY
FROM THE CHIEF PRIEST TO BIND
ALL WHO CALL ON YOUR NAME.'
BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, 'GO,
FOR HE IS A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT
OF MINE TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE
THE GENTILES AND KINGS
AND THE SONS OF
ISRAEL.'" AND HERE'S
THE, HERE'S THE AMENDMENT,
"FOR I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MUCH
HE WILL SUFFER FOR MY NAME'S
SAKE." SO HERE'S THIS GUY
WHO WE WOULD CALL HIM
AN "IVY LEAGUE RABBI."
AND HE'S GOT PAPERS
AND CREDENTIALS TO TAKE PEOPLE
BACK TO JERUSALEM.
HE'S STRUCK BLIND,
ANANIAS GETS THIS DUBIOUS JOB
OF GOING TO HIM AND CONFRONTING
HIM. AND THE STORY UNFOLDS;
OF COURSE, THE SCALES FALL OFF.
BUT THAT, THAT MON, THAT, THAT
JUST MIND-BLOWING MISSIONAL
STATEMENT, "HE'S GOING TO
SUFFER A LOT FOR MY NAME'S
SAKE." SO FROM HIS ZEAL
AS A JEWS' JEW, NOW HE'S GOING
TO BE TURNED 180 AND BE
A ZEALOUS APOSTLE
TO THE GENTILE. HE'LL,
OF COURSE, SPEND YEARS IN
PRISON, HE'LL BE SHIPWRECKED,
FLOGGED, SNAKE BIT, PERSECUTED,
ON THE RUN, LOWERED DOWN
IN BASKETS IN HUMILIATION
TO ESCAPE ANGRY CROWDS.
AND HIS LIFE WILL BE ONE ON
THE RUN AND IN PRISON UNTIL
HE DIES. AND THIS IS THE GREAT
SAINT PAUL WHO WAS CHOSEN
TO SUFFER. NOW, IF YOU WANT ME
TO TAKE PROSPERITY 101 VERSUS
SUFFERING 101, OF COURSE
I'LL TAKE PROSPERITY 101!
BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
GOD'S PLAN IN THE SCRIPTURE.
WE'RE GOING TO SUFFER, ALL OF
US WILL IN SOME WAY, SHAPE,
OR FORM.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
IN VERSE 26 OF THE PASSAGE
THAT YOU'RE QUOTING, HE USES
THE WORD, "WE WERE IN DANGER
OR PERIL" EIGHT TIMES IN ONE
VERSE, OKAY? SO THAT'S
WHAT HE WAS LIVING WITH
ALL THE TIME.
HE HAD, HE WAS A CHOSEN
INSTRUMENT; HE WAS GOING
TO BE GREATLY USED BY GOD;
BUT THE PRISON TIME THAT
HE SPENT AND ALL OF
THESE THINGS FROM BEING
STONED, TO BEING HUNTED DOWN,
TO BEING MISTREATED
IN EVERY PLACE THAT HE WENT,
IT WAS A LIFE. AND HE IS
THE GREAT APOSTLE PAUL.
SO WHERE DO WE COME IN?
>>EASLEY: WE LOOK AT PAUL'S
LIFE, OBVIOUSLY NOT PICKED LIKE
HE WAS, BUT IF WE'RE CALLED
OF CHRIST WE ARE CHOSEN OF GOD.
AND SO, IN OUR LIFE'S FABRIC,
EVEN WHEN PAUL WAS CHOSEN,
I DOUBT HE HAD ANY IDEA HOW
GOD WAS GOING TO USE
HIM FOR HIS GLORY AND HIS GOOD.
AND SO WHEN JONI LOOKS AT
HER LIFE AND I LOOK AT MY LIFE
OF CHRONIC PAIN, WHEN PEOPLE
WHO ARE WATCHING YOUR BROADCAST
HAVE FAR MORE COMPLICATED
SITUATIONS THAN WE DO, TO SEE
THAT YOU'RE A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT
OF HIS, HE LOVES YOU, HE CARES
ABOUT YOU AND THEN HE WILL USE
YOU. AND THIS IS THE HARDEST
PART. WHEN WE LOSE THIS ABILITY
WE CAN'T DO THINGS WE USED
TO DO, "WELL, I'M NOT USEFUL
ANYMORE." AND THAT'S WHERE
IN SOMEHOW IN A WAY I DON'T
UNDERSTAND, JOHN, IN OUR
WEAKNESS HE'S MADE STRONG.
HE SOMEHOW OVERCOMES
THE LIMITATIONS IN THE FLESH
AND USES US IN SPITE OF US.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN
ALWAYS QUANTIFY THAT EVEN
IN THIS LIFE TIME.
I THINK THAT WILL BE
LATER TO COME.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH. WELL,
LET'S, LET'S GO BACK TO YOU
AND A PERSONAL ILLUSTRATION,
OKAY? BECAUSE BEFORE ALL
THIS STUFF HIT YOU, YOU COULD
DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
YOU WERE GREAT AT RACQUETBALL,
YOU COULD FIX ANY CAR,
YOU COULD FIX STUFF
IN THE HOUSE, YOU COULD MOW
THE LAWN. AND THEN TELL ME
WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
>>EASLEY: I APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING THAT UP AND MAKING ME
FEEL BAD AGAIN.
>>ANKERBERG: YEAH.
>>ALL: [CHUCKLE]
>>EASLEY: YOU KNOW, YOU,
YOU DO.
YOU LOSE YOUR SENSE OF WHO YOU
ARE BECAUSE YOUR IDENTITY IS
SELF-SUFFICIENT. YOUR IDENTITY
IS I CAN LEARN THAT THING,
I'M A HANDY FELLOW.
I CAN FIX THINGS.
AND WHEN THOSE PROPS ARE TAKEN
AWAY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE, YOU REALIGN YOURSELF.
MY IDENTITY IS NOT IN WHAT I DO
OR HOW I PERFORM IN THIS WORLD,
MY IDENTITY IS IN THE PERSON
AND WORK OF CHRIST.
AND THE GREATEST USE ANY OF US
CAN BE IS TO TALK ABOUT
THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST,
HOW HE WORKS IN SPITE OF
OUR LIMITATIONS, IN SPITE OF
OUR DISABILITIES, IN SPITE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
HE CHOSE NOT MANY WISE, NOT
MANY NOBLE, NOT MANY STRONG,
BUT HE CHOSE THE WEAK, IGNOBLE
THINGS OF THE WORLD TO SHAME
THOSE WHO WERE WISE, STRONG AND
NOBLE. SO I THINK OUR PLACE
IN CHRIST, IT TAKES
A RECALIBRATION ALWAYS:
DON'T LET MY EXPERIENCE
TEACH ME ABOUT GOD,
LET THE WORD TEACH ME
ABOUT MY GOD.
>>ANKERBERG: OKAY, JONI,
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT
THE ANSWER TO WHEN PEOPLE
GO INTO DISCOURAGEMENT
AND DEPRESSION BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THE CHRONIC
PAIN THAT THEY'RE LIVING WITH
ALL THE TIME. AND ONE OF
THE VERSES THAT IS KEEN TO YOU
IS PHILIPPIANS 1:3,
"EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU
I GIVE THANKS TO MY GOD."
>>JONI E. TADA: THAT VERSE
INSPIRES ME SO MUCH. BECAUSE
JUST LOOK AT THE CONTEXT.
PAUL IS WRITING TO HIS FRIENDS
IN PHILIPPI AND HE'S WRITING
FROM A JAIL CELL. AND IT,
HE COULD HAVE STARTED OFF
HIS LETTER SAYING, "DEAR
FRIENDS, THE CELL STINKS.
IT'S ICE COLD IN HERE.
THE FOOD IS, IS AWFUL.
THE JAILER IS MEAN.
MY CELLMATES ARE BULLIES.
MY CHAINS ARE CHAFFING
MY WRISTS AND MY ANKLES.
IT, IT IS ICE COLD AT NIGHTS,
THEY DON'T GIVE ME A BLANKET."
HE DOESN'T DO THAT.
HE DOESN'T START OFF HIS LETTER
WITH A, WITH A LIST OF
COMPLAINTS, WHICH IS SO MUCH
LIKE I WILL DO. AND THAT'S WHY
I DRAW SUCH INSPIRATION FROM
THAT WONDERFUL LITTLE VERSE
IN PHILIPPIANS 1:3.
PAUL STARTS OFF HIS LETTER
SAYING, "I THANK MY GOD
EVERY TIME I REMEMBER YOU."
OH, MY GOODNESS, DOES THAT
INSPIRE ME; BECAUSE IT TELLS ME
THAT IN MY SUFFERING
I'M TO LOOK FOR OTHERS,
LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS WHO ARE
HURTING EVEN WORSE THAN I DO.
I, I WANT TO SHOW YOU
A PHOTOGRAPH THAT I HAVE
ON MY WALL NEXT TO MY DESK.
EVERY TIME I WHEEL INTO
THE OFFICE OF JONI AND FRIENDS
EVERY MORNING, I LOOK AT
THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
IT'S OF AN AFRICAN MAN THAT
WE MET IN GHANA. HE HAD FALLEN
OUT OF A TREE, BROKE HIS BACK,
LAID BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
IN A PLACE WHERE NO HOSPITALS,
NO CLINICS, NO AMBULANCE
CAME RUNNING AFTER HIM.
HE LAID THERE FOR SOME HOURS
BEFORE HIS FRIENDS FOUND HIM
AND DRAGGED HIM BACK HOME.
AND NOW HE SITS IN THIS ONE
POSITION IN INTRACTABLE PAIN.
AND WHEN I WHEEL UP TO MY DESK,
AND I LOOK AT THAT PHOTOGRAPH,
IT'S A VIVID PICTURE TO ME
THAT, WELL, PHILIPPIANS 2:14,
"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT
COMPLAINING." WHAT?
DOES THE BIBLE REALLY EXPECT
ME TO DO THAT? "DO EVERYTHING
WITHOUT COMPLAINING."
MICHAEL JUST ALLUDED
TO THE FACT THAT WE LEARN
ABOUT GOD FROM TAKING
HIM AT HIS WORD.
AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO
COMPLAIN, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT
THAT GUY ON THE WALL AND SAY
TO MYSELF, "JONI, I DON'T CARE
HOW PAINFUL YOUR BACK FEELS
OR HOW LIMITED YOUR PARALYSIS,
YOU ARE GOING TO SQUEEZE
EVERY OUNCE OF MINISTRY EFFORT
OUT OF THAT QUADRIPLEGIC BODY
TODAY, TO DO EVERYTHING IN
YOUR POWER TO ENCOURAGE HIM,
INSPIRE HIM, BOOST HIM,
SERVE HIM, AND SERVE PEOPLE
LIKE HIM."
ONE BILLION PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES IN THE WORLD LIVE
LIKE HE DOES; 80% OF THEM
IN DEVELOPING NATIONS.
AND HERE I SIT IN AMERICA
WITH A NICE WHEELCHAIR AND, AND
AND FOOD AT THE TABLE AND, AND,
AND FRIENDS TO SUPPORT ME.
DARE I HOARD THOSE BLESSINGS
TO MYSELF? I MEAN,
I WANT TO BE LIKE ABRAHAM,
I WANT TO BE A BLESSING
TO NATIONS. I'M GOING
TO PASS IT ON.
I WANT TO GET THE BLESSING
OFF MY LAP LIKE A HOT POTATO
AND ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY ELSE
WHOSE SITUATION IS MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT THAN MINE.
AND, JOHN, NOTHING HELPS
MY DEPRESSION BETTER.
THE DEPRESSION JUST SEEMS
TO DISSIPATE WHEN I GET UP
IN THE MORNING, TAKE A SHOWER,
GET DRESSED, GO OUT THE FRONT
DOOR AND FIND SOMEBODY
IN THE COMMUNITY WHO'S HURTING
WORSE THAN YOU ARE.
IT'S THE ADVICE I GIVE PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES FAR MORE
DIFFICULT AND FAR MORE
RESTRICTIVE THAN MINE.
AND IT'S THE ADVICE I WOULD
GIVE MY FRIENDS EVEN TODAY.
IT IS THE BEST CURE
FOR DEPRESSION.
>>ANKERBERG: WE'RE TALKING
WITH DR. MICHAEL EASLEY AND
JONI EARECKSON TADA, AND WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANT
TOPIC THAT KIND OF AFFECTS
ALL OF US. WHAT DO YOU DO
WHEN YOU'RE EXPERIENCING
CHRONIC PAIN,
PAIN THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE, OKAY? PROBABLY GOING
TO GET WORSE; THAT LEADS TO
DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEPRESSION,
OKAY? HOW DOES GOD HELP US
IN THOSE TIMES?
HERE'S A VERSE THAT I THINK
SHOULD BE PUT ON
JONI'S WHEELCHAIR, OKAY?
IT TALKS ABOUT GOD COMFORTING
PAUL, AND HOW THAT COMFORT
HELPED PAUL COMFORT OTHERS.
IT GOES LIKE THIS, "PRAISE BE
TO THE GOD AND FATHER
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
THE FATHER OF COMPASSION
AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT WHO
COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES
SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE
IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT
THAT WE OURSELVES HAVE RECEIVED
FROM GOD."
JONI, TO ME THAT'S YOU.
>>TADA: WELL, ACTUALLY THAT
WAS WHAT I JUST SHARED BEFORE
THE BREAK IN THAT GOD COMFORTS
US, COMFORTS US IN OUR TROUBLES
SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE
WHO SUFFER ANY TROUBLE.
I MEAN, WHETHER IT'S
QUADRIPLEGICS, PARAPLEGICS,
I MEAN, I CAN COMFORT, I CAN BE
USED OF GOD TO COMFORT ANYONE.
AND WHAT A JOY, WHAT AN HONOR,
WHAT A PRIVILEGE.
BUT GOD'S WORD IS A COMFORT.
IN FACT, JUST THE OTHER DAY,
I WAS SO DEPRESSED.
I HAD GONE TO AN ORTHOPEDIC
SPECIALIST AND I WAS SO HOPING
THAT HE MIGHT HAVE THE MAGIC
PILL, THE, THE INSTANT ANSWER,
THE SURGERY THAT WOULD WORK.
BUT HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID
TO MY HUSBAND AND ME,
"YOUR QUADRIPLEGIC BONES ARE
JUST TOO FRAGILE, THERE'S
NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU."
THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY.
AND THE NEXT DAY I HAD
TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK.
AND I, I JUST HATED HAVING TO
WHEEL THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR
OF THE JONI AND FRIENDS
HEADQUARTERS AND SMILE
AT SOMEBODY. I WAS SO DOWN;
I WAS SO WEARY;
MY HEART WAS SO BROKEN.
AND ALL THE WAY ON THE 101
FREEWAY, DRIVING TO WORK,
EVERY SINGLE BUMP ON THE SLOW
LANE, JUST, JUST GOES RIGHT UP
MY BACK. AND I, I,
AND I, I'M NOT ONLY DEPRESSED,
I'M IN AN UNUSUAL DEGREE
OF PAIN. SO, GOD, HOW ARE
YOU GOING TO COMFORT ME?
AND OUT OF NOWHERE I REMEMBERED
A VERSE I HAD MEMORIZED YEARS
AGO, PSALM 119:50, WHERE IT
SAYS, "MY COMFORT IN SUFFERING
IS THIS, YOUR PROMISES
RENEW MY LIFE." I THINK
SOME TRANSLATIONS SAY REVIVE
MY LIFE, AND OH MY GOODNESS,
JOHN, ALL THE WAY THE REST OF
THE DISTANCE ON THE FREEWAY,
FOR THE NEXT SIX EXITS,
I AM QUOTING OUT LOUD, OUT
LOUD, ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD
THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
"OH, GOD, YOU PROMISE THAT
YOUR GRACE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT
FOR THIS PAIN, AND YOU PROMISE
THAT YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE ME
OR FORSAKE ME, AND YOU PROMISE
IN THE BOOK OF JOSHUA THAT
YOU WILL GO OUT AND FIGHT FOR
ME. AND YOU PROMISE THAT YOU'LL
BE MY EVER PRESENT HELP IN
DANGER. YOU PROMISE THAT ALL OF
THIS IS GOING TO FIT TOGETHER
INTO A PATTERN FOR GOOD."
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG.
EVERY SINGLE EXIT ON
THE FREEWAY I HAD TWENTY MORE
PROMISES TO QUOTE. AND, JOHN,
I CANNOT TELL YOU BY THE TIME
I GOT TO THE PARKING LOT
OF OUR OFFICE GOD'S WORD
HAD REVIVED ME, HAD REFRESHED
ME, HAD RENEWED MY LIFE.
AND I SHOOK MY HEAD IN
AMAZEMENT, BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY
A TWENTY MINUTE DRIVE BETWEEN
MY HOUSE AND THE OFFICE, BUT
TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD WHEN
HE TELLS US THAT OUR COMFORT
IS HIS PROMISES, THAT THEY WILL
RENEW OUR LIVES, THEN GRAB HOLD
OF THEM. AND DON'T JUST GRAB
HOLD OF THEM, SPEAK THEM,
SAY THEM, SHARE THEM OUT LOUD,
VOICE THEM, GIVE THEM FLESH
AND BONE AND BLOOD. AND SAY IT
AS THOUGH YOU REALLY MEAN IT,
AND GOD WILL INFUSE HIS GRACE.
IT'S, IT'S AS THOUGH, IT'S AS
THOUGH HE'S JUST WAITING US,
FOR US TO TAKE THAT STEP
OF FAITH, TO MOVE OUT OF
DEPRESSION, TO FIND THAT PERSON
WHO IS HURTING WORSE THAN
WE ARE, TO BELIEVE SOMETHING IN
HIS WORD THAT WE NEVER REALLY
BELIEVED BEFORE OR STEPPED OUT
IN FAITH ON BEFORE.
AND KNOWING GOD, TRUSTING HIM
IN THAT REGARD, HOLDING ON TO
THOSE ANCHORS FROM SCRIPTURE,
IT JUST LIKE TURNS ON THE FAN
TO BLOW AWAY THE FOG OF
DEPRESSION. AND I'M JUST
GRATEFUL THAT EVEN THOUGH
I STILL GET DEPRESSED,
AND AT TIMES
IT IS OVERWHELMING,
I'VE GOT THE WORD OF GOD,
I'VE GOT THOSE PROMISES THAT
MICHAEL WAS JUST READING
MOMENTS AGO TO REVIVE MY LIFE.
>>ANKERBERG: MICHAEL, I GOT
TO SWITCH TOPICS HERE, OKAY?
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
SUFFERING, THERE'S A LOT
OF FOLKS IN THE CHURCH
THAT BELIEVE HEALTH, WEALTH
AND PROSPERITY IS THE RULE.
THERE ARE THINGS
THAT GOD DOES GIVE TO US,
BUT THERE ARE A LOT
OF OTHER VERSES THAT PEOPLE
SKIP OVER. GIVE ME
SOME OF THEM.
>>EASLEY: WELL
PHILIPPIANS 1:29,
FOR HAS BEEN GRANTED TO YOU
ON BEHALF OF CHRIST NOT ONLY
TO BELIEVE IN HIM BUT ALSO
TO SUFFER FOR HIM, SINCE YOU
ARE GOING THROUGH THIS SAME
STRUGGLE YOU SAW I HAD AND
NOW HEAR THAT I STILL HAVE."
AND BACK TO, JONI REFERENCED
THE PHILIPPIANS BOOK BEING
THIS JOYFUL BOOK, HE SAYS,
LOOK, YOU'RE GOING TO SUFFER
TOO. THESE BLESSINGS, YES,
THEY'RE GREAT, BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO SUFFER IN THE SAME WAY
JUST AS I HAVE. ACTS 14:22,
"WE MUST GO THROUGH
MANY HARDSHIPS TO ENTER
THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT,
THERE'LL TO BE SETBACKS.
WE LIVE IN AN EVIL CONTEXT,
WE'RE FALLEN PEOPLE IN A FALLEN
WORLD. SECOND CORINTHIANS 1:5,
"FOR JUST AS THE SUFFERINGS
OF CHRIST FLOW INTO OUR LIVES,
SO ALSO THROUGH CHRIST
OUR COMFORT OVERFLOWS."
AND FINALLY, 1 PETER 4:12,
"DEAR FRIENDS, DO NOT BE
SURPRISED BY THE PAINFUL TRIAL
YOU ARE SUFFERING AS THOUGH
SOMETHING STRANGE HAS HAPPENED
TO YOU." AND HERE'S THE HARD
PART, "BUT REJOICE THAT YOU
PARTICIPATE IN THE SUFFERINGS
OF CHRIST, THAT YOU MAY BE
OVERJOYED WHEN HIS GLORY
IS REVEALED." AND THE WHOLE
TEXT OF 1 PETER IS TO PEOPLE
SUFFERING FOR THE SAKE
OF CHRIST. I DON'T KNOW HOW
PEOPLE THAT HOLD TO A HEALTH,
WEALTH VIEW APPROACH THE BOOK
OF 1 PETER BUT THE WHOLE
INSTRUCTION IS THIS IS WHAT
YOU DO WHEN YOU SUFFER BECAUSE
YOU ALL ARE GOING TO SUFFER.
>>ANKERBERG: YES.
EASLEY YES.
>>ANKERBERG: WE HAVE ONLY A FEW
MINUTES LEFT, AND I WANT TO
TOUCH ON ONE MORE THING,
AND THAT IS THE FEAR OF DEATH.
ALL THREE OF US IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS THOUGHT WE WERE
GOING TO DIE. I SHOULDN'T
SAY THIS PROBABLY, BUT JONI,
WHEN SHE HEARD IT, SHE WAS
ALMOST GLAD SHE WAS OUT
OF HERE BECAUSE OF
ALL THE SUFFERING. YOU AND I
HAD NO CONTROL OVER
IT. IT WAS A REAL POSSIBILITY,
AND GOD SAVED US, OKAY?
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT
SITUATION RIGHT NOW,
HOW DO THEY GET COMFORT AND
PEACE FROM GOD TO FACE WHAT
THEY'RE FACING?
>>EASLEY: WELL, FIRST, IF YOU
DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH
CHRIST, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE
CONCERN THAT WE ALL HAVE,
IS THAT THEY KNOW THAT CHRIST
LIVED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED
AND CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD.
THAT ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST
IN CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE ARE
PROMISED A FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL
LIFE AND OUR SINS ARE THEN
FORGIVEN. SO THAT'S
THE BENCHMARK, THAT'S
THE BEDROCK OF THIS THING
WE CALL FAITH IN THE PERSON
AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.
SO NOW WHEN I GO TO THESE
JUNCTURES WHETHER IT'S SURGERY,
OR WILL I LIVE THROUGH
THIS PROCEDURE, THE VERDICT
IS GOD'S. HE KNOWS OUR DAYS,
HE'S NUMBERED THE HAIRS ON
OUR HEAD, HE'S NUMBERED
HOW LONG WE'LL BE HERE.
AND SO THERE'S,
THERE'S A JOYFUL GLEE TO IT
THAT, WELL, IF THIS IS
THE SURGERY THAT TAKES US HOME,
THEN GOD RENDERED HIS VERDICT.
BUT IF WE WAKE UP, THEN IT WAS
GOD'S VERDICT THAT WE STILL
HAVE MARGIN ON THIS EARTH.
AND BACK TO JONI'S COMMENT,
THIS IS SO HARD FOR SO MANY
CHRISTIANS. YOU KNOW
JONI LIVES WITH INTRACTABLE
ISSUES, I LIVE WITH
CERTAIN IDENTIFIABLE PAINS,
WE KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAR
GREATER AND LESSER. AND JUST AS
SHE MINISTERS TO ME AND I GO,
"I, I'VE GOT NOTHING
TO COMPLAIN ABOUT."
BUT WHEN JONI SAYS
SOMETHING TO ME, IT CAN
DISMANTLE ME. AND SO I HAVE
FRIENDS, PROBABLY 10%
OF MY TIME SPENT WITH PEOPLE
WHO LIVE WITH BACK PAIN, AND
THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST LEARNING
THIS DIAGNOSIS FOR THE FIRST
TIME. MAYBE WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER
SOMEONE THAT'S JUST BECOME
A PARAPLEGIC OR A QUAD,
YOU KNOW WHAT'S AHEAD OF THEM,
BUT YOU CAN'T TELL THEM
ALL OF THAT.
AND YOU TELL THEM,
"LOOK, DO THE NEXT THING.
DO THE NEXT THING, THAT'S
ALL ANYBODY CAN DO." AND THAT
TO ME IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
A PERSON THAT GOES THROUGH
DEPRESSION, AND SELF-PITY
AND DISCOURAGEMENT AND A PERSON
THAT SAYS, "THOUGH HE SLAY ME,
I'M GOING TO LOVE HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY LIFE'S
LIKE, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY
TO HAVE FAITH IN HIM.
GIVE ME THE FAITH TO BELIEVE
IN YOU NO MATTER
WHAT MY EXPERIENCE TELLS ME."
AND THAT'S THE PIVOT FOR ME
A LOT OF THE TIME, JOHN.
>>ANKERBERG: YOU'VE HURT
SO MUCH THAT WHEN THE DOCTOR
TOLD YOU, ON TOP OF EVERYTHING
ELSE, YOU HAD CANCER, YOU SAID,
"WHOOPEE, I'M OUT OF HERE."
AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE LOVE
FOR YOUR HUSBAND KEN...
>>TADA: YES.
>>ANKERBERG: ...GOD CHANGED
YOUR MIND. WHAT HAPPENED?
>>TADA: WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WHEN I GOT THE DIAGNOSIS OF
STAGE THREE CANCER I WAS
RELIEVED TO THINK THAT GOD
MIGHT BE CALLING ME HOME SOON.
BUT WHEN I SAW THE INCREDIBLE
SUPPORT AND LOVE AND CARE FROM
MY HUSBAND, AND I SAW HOW MUCH
HE, HE NEEDED ME, WHICH TO ME
WAS QUITE REMARKABLE, BECAUSE
I, I, I REQUIRE SO MUCH HELP.
AND HE'S GOT TO CONSTANTLY BE
DOING THINGS FOR ME,
BUT HE LOVES ME NEVERTHELESS.
AND THAT MADE ME WANT TO STAY,
TO PASS ON THE COMFORT THAT
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO HIM.
TO LOOK OUT FOR HIS INTERESTS
BEFORE MY OWN.
AND WHEN THAT TIME OF DEATH
COMES, I LOVE THAT LAST LINE
IN THE OLD HYMN, "WHEN I CROSS
THE VERGE OF JORDAN, BID MY
ANXIOUS FEARS SUBSIDE. DEATH OF
DEATH AND HELL'S DESTRUCTION,
LAND ME SAFE ON CANAAN'S SIDE."
I HAVE A FEELING THAT WHEN I
DO PASS INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE ETERNITY I'LL BE, I'LL BE
SINGING THAT VERY HYMN AND
HOLDING ONTO MY HUSBAND'S HAND.
>>ANKERBERG: ALRIGHT, NEXT WEEK
WE HAVE A QUESTION THAT
I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO WANT
TO HEAR, AND THAT IS,
IT'S THIS:
IS IT GOD'S WILL TO HEAL
EVERYONE WHO PRAYS TO HIM
IN FAITH ABOUT THEIR SICKNESS?
WILL GOD AS A RESULT OF THAT
HEAL EVERYONE? I'M GOING TO
ASK OUR TWO GUESTS TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION. I HOPE THAT
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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