I knew her story, but I had no idea how God had used it.
At age 17, Joni Erickson Tada dove in shallow water and didn’t come up. She survived near drowning only to discover the accident left her a quadriplegic for life.
Her physical pain was immense, but her emotional pain was unbearable. Numerous times she cried out, “Do you exist, God? Do you care? What are you doing, God?” She didn’t want to live the rest of her life paralyzed from the shoulders down and be a burden to others for her total care.
Became Clear
But during her two-year stay in the hospital, it became clear that her life and the life of every human being has significance and purpose. In her rehabilitation, she learned how to paint by holding a brush in her mouth and how to move her arms a little by using her back muscles.
At age 29, she started a worldwide Christian ministry called “Joni and Friends” to the 1.3 billion people around the globe with physical disabilities. Her ministry collected used wheelchairs, crutches, canes and walkers, repaired them and distributed them to people in need. In the process, she has traveled to over 40 countries and served on the National Council of Disability which led to the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Why Pick Me?
Joni has written award-winning books, recorded albums and inspired millions around the world with her deep faith and immense perseverance. But at a recent talk at the Global Leadership Summit, she caught me off guard when she openly asked, “Why did God pick me? Why a broken neck for me?”
Nothing about it made sense. Wouldn’t God want someone able-bodied, highly educated, and brimming with business skills to run a multi-national non-profit with 230 employees? Instead, God chose as the CEO of one of the largest Christian ministries in the world someone who can’t feed herself, carries a high school education and has the heart of an artist.
The World Will Know
Why does God do this? Joni says, “So the whole world will know that God has done it and not humans. It’s to ensure that God gets the glory.” She sees her sufferings in the same light as Paul who wrote in chains from Rome,
“What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”
Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
Not that it’s been easy. Joni freely admits she is living a story she never would have chosen. At 74, she still deals with chronic pain that will never go away. Every day is a struggle. But what God has done in her and through her is extraordinary. Through her suffering, here’s what she has learned.
The most effective leaders do not rise to power in spite of their weakness; they lead with power because of their weakness.
-Joni Erickson Tada
Sufficient
Day in and day out, Joni lives the message the Lord spoke to Paul when he begged for a thorn in his flesh to be removed,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
She is a living testimony to grace’s sufficiency. Thankfully, at this high-powered, leadership conference, she did not give a “how to do it” talk. She gave a “how to be it” talk.
More Important Things
Joni left no doubt about her one burning passion: to see the world’s disabled reached with the Gospel of Christ. As she began to roll off the stage in her wheelchair, her final words were, “There are more important things in life than walking.”
Indeed. Not all of us have physical disabilities, but we all carry weaknesses and wounds. What if God chooses to use people like us not in spite of our weaknesses, but because of them? If we will allow it, that’s when God’s power can shine forth.
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ROGER’S UPCOMING SPEAKING SCHEDULE:
August 24-25, 2024 – First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St, Pekin, IL
- Saturday 8/17 – In Person at 5:00 pm
- Sunday 8/18 – In Person at 8:00 and 10:00 am
- Sunday 8/18 – Live Stream at 10:00 am www.pekinfirst.org
Roger Ross
A native of Cambridge, Illinois, Roger has served as a pastor in Texas, the British Channel Island of Guernsey, and Illinois. While in Illinois, he led teams that planted two new churches and served for 10 years as the lead pastor of one of the largest United Methodist Churches in the Midwest. It was his privilege to serve as the Director of Congregational Excellence in the Missouri Conference before coming into his current role with Spiritual Leadership, Inc (SLI).
Roger now comes alongside pastors, non-profit leaders and their leadership teams as an executive coach, specializing in leadership that inspires change. As a side gig, he loves teaching evangelism and church planting as an adjunct professor at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas.
Other passions of his include SCUBA diving in warm blue water, Krispy Kremes, and board games with family and friends. He also has a weakness for golf.
Roger is the author of three books, Meet The Goodpeople: Wesley’s 7 Ways to Share Faith, Come Back: Returning to the Life You Were Made For, and Come Back Participant Guide, all through Abingdon Press.
Now for the best part. Roger is married to Leanne Klein Ross, and they live Bloomington, Illinois. God has blessed them with two adult children, a son-in-law, several tropical fish, and one adorable granddog.
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