June 6
The Gift of the Wheel Chair
James 1:2-4 (MSG) “Consider it a sheer Gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
Joni Eareckson Tada said, “Even though I have rough moments in my wheelchair, for the most part, I consider my paralysis a gift. Just as Jesus exchanged the meaning of the Cross, from a symbol of torture to one of hope and salvation. He gives me the grace to do the same with my chair. If a cross can become a blessing, so can a wheelchair. The wheelchair, in a sense, is behind me now. The despair is over. There are now other crosses to bear, other “wheelchairs” in my life to be exchanged into gifts.”
Maybe you aren’t in a physical wheel chair, but you’ve had adversities in life that you can call your wheelchair- intense pain and sorrow, financial failures, or loosing your marriage. I am sure at times it was torture, or maybe it still is torture. Will you praise Him in the pain, sorrow, and torture?
You may be asking how can a wheel chair be a gift? Look at Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” And, Galatians 6:9 “in just a short time, we will reap a harvest, if we faint not”
I have decided to Praise Him with the wheelchair or without the wheelchair. I Praise Him for the gift of the wheelchair knowing that it’s working good for me. He has placed so much inside of me, and He is bringing so much out of me- He’s birthing something awesome in you and me. For we shall be like Him as we Praise Him in our adversities. Let His Glory and Grace cover you in your wheelchair. You are being made strong in Him as you praise Him for the gift of the wheelchair. God trusts you enough to have the wheelchair. God looks at you & says there is my son or daughter in whom I am well pleased. I find great delight in you. And, I am pouring out my grace to cover and carry you.
Don’t look at the wheelchair as a curse or a trouble. Let it strengthen you for an even greater work for Christ. And, NEVER give up! 2 Corinthians 4:8 (GW) says, “In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up.”
I could have allowed my intense pain & sorrow of loosing my best friend and husband of almost 16 years, hinder what God was wanting to birth inside of me that was placed there long ago. We are getting stronger and more valuable through the fire and through our wheelchairs. I love what 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NLT) says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
Your test will be a testimony for others. What great reward awaits for those who consider their wheelchair- a gift!
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
The Gift of the Wheel Chair
James 1:2-4 (MSG) “Consider it a sheer Gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
Joni Eareckson Tada said, “Even though I have rough moments in my wheelchair, for the most part, I consider my paralysis a gift. Just as Jesus exchanged the meaning of the Cross, from a symbol of torture to one of hope and salvation. He gives me the grace to do the same with my chair. If a cross can become a blessing, so can a wheelchair. The wheelchair, in a sense, is behind me now. The despair is over. There are now other crosses to bear, other “wheelchairs” in my life to be exchanged into gifts.”
Maybe you aren’t in a physical wheel chair, but you’ve had adversities in life that you can call your wheelchair- intense pain and sorrow, financial failures, or loosing your marriage. I am sure at times it was torture, or maybe it still is torture. Will you praise Him in the pain, sorrow, and torture?
You may be asking how can a wheel chair be a gift? Look at Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” And, Galatians 6:9 “in just a short time, we will reap a harvest, if we faint not”
I have decided to Praise Him with the wheelchair or without the wheelchair. I Praise Him for the gift of the wheelchair knowing that it’s working good for me. He has placed so much inside of me, and He is bringing so much out of me- He’s birthing something awesome in you and me. For we shall be like Him as we Praise Him in our adversities. Let His Glory and Grace cover you in your wheelchair. You are being made strong in Him as you praise Him for the gift of the wheelchair. God trusts you enough to have the wheelchair. God looks at you & says there is my son or daughter in whom I am well pleased. I find great delight in you. And, I am pouring out my grace to cover and carry you.
Don’t look at the wheelchair as a curse or a trouble. Let it strengthen you for an even greater work for Christ. And, NEVER give up! 2 Corinthians 4:8 (GW) says, “In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up.”
I could have allowed my intense pain & sorrow of loosing my best friend and husband of almost 16 years, hinder what God was wanting to birth inside of me that was placed there long ago. We are getting stronger and more valuable through the fire and through our wheelchairs. I love what 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NLT) says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
Your test will be a testimony for others. What great reward awaits for those who consider their wheelchair- a gift!
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In partnership with Katherine Clift of DailyLiveWorship
