Advice

ADVICE

You can do it!

God can help you scale life’s walls, says JONI EARECKSON TADA

If it’s July, it’s time for our Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats here in the States.

Ken and I just returned from the first of our 12 retreats for the season – what a heartwarming, Spirit-blessed time we had with disabled children, adults, family members, and volunteers at the conference centre in North Carolina. And I’ll never forget my time with Corie.

Corie has one of the most winsome smiles I’ve ever seen – when she giggles, her whole face scrunches. She’s 19 years old, a little under five feet tall, loves her six brothers and sisters, and has Down’s syndrome. Her speech is a little slurred and her nouns and verbs often don’t match. But that’s okay. “Are you going rock wall and come down and watching me climb it all the way to the top and back down okay?” she asked me excitedly, to which I replied: “You bet!”

I sat on the sidelines and watched the conference staff workers strap Corie into her climbing harness. “Hee-hee,” she smiled at me. After they hooked the ropes to her belt, they securely buckled a helmet on her head. For all her physical limitations – mental, too – Corie was ready to climb. She gave me a happy ‘thumbs up,’ turned to the wall, grabbed a rock, and began scaling her way up the towering edifice.

I was shocked at the speed with which Corie climbed. This girl had no fear! “Go, Corie, go!” I called, along with everyone else. When she reached the top, she twisted around, gave me a big grin, and waved. Within minutes, she had scooted back down the rock wall and when her feet hit the ground, we all let out a cheer. Corie – as though mimicking Rocky’s boxing victory – kept pumping her arms in the air.

One person, however, wasn’t joining in the celebration. Heather was too nervous. This was her very first climb and she stood quietly and timidly as the workers strapped on her harness so she could go up the wall next. Heather has Down’s syndrome, too.

“Are you ready?” the staff worker asked Heather, giving her straps a final tug. She just stared at him with a blank expression.

“Headder, you are going, too, up?” Corie asked as she took off her helmet. Heather’s expression didn’t change.

With that, Corie walked over to her friend, put her arm around her, and said softly: “Okay, it is, Headder. The wall won’t hurt you.” Heather looked up at Corie, then glanced up at the huge wall in front of her. “It won’t hurt you,” Corie repeated.

That’s all Heather needed to hear. The next instant, she already had a handle on one rock and was reaching for another. Halfway up the wall, she meekly called down: “It doesn’t hurt!”

What a lesson. What a picture. And what an encouragement Corie’s words are to us. Because each of us in our lives faces a wall. Sometimes many walls. A bad medical report ... an unexpected bill ... gossip about us that keeps circulating ... a deep disappointment from a family member ... a nagging physical injury ... fragile emotions that keep crashing ... or a constant struggle against never-ending temptation.

But the good news is: the wall won’t hurt you. James 1:2-3 says: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

True, your “wall” may hurt your pride, it may tax your energies, it may bruise your sense of self-reliance ... but it can’t hurt your inner being where the Spirit of Christ strengthens you.

Look up. Take heart and say: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
There’s a reason. God has a purpose. He knows all about the wall you’re facing. In fact, he’s gone ahead to show you the way up, out, and over the top of every trial, no matter how foreboding or frightening.

So take courage from Corie’s counsel. Get climbing. It won’t hurt you. You can do it ... through Christ, the God of every wall.

Joni Eareckson Tada has been a quadriplegic since a diving accident. As president of Joni and Friends, she serves as an international disability advocate.
Her UK organisation is Through The Roof (CH), Global House, Epsom KT18 5AD (01732 749955)
joni@throughtheroof.org

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		ADVICE You can do it! God can help you scale life’s walls, says JONI EARECKSON TADA If it’s July, it’s time for our Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats here in the States. Ken and I just returned from the first of our 12 retreats for the season – what a heartwarming, Spirit-blessed time we had with disabled children, adults, family members, and volunteers at the conference centre in North Carolina. And I’ll never forget my time with Corie. Corie has one of the most winsome smiles I’ve ever seen – when she giggles, her whole face scrunches. She’s 19 years old, a little under five feet tall, loves her six brothers and sisters, and has Down’s syndrome. Her speech is a little slurred and her nouns and verbs often don’t match. But that’s okay. “Are you going rock wall and come down and watching me climb it all the way to the top and back down okay?” she asked me excitedly, to which I replied: “You bet!” I sat on the sidelines and watched the conference staff workers strap Corie into her climbing harness. “Hee-hee,” she smiled at me. After they hooked the ropes to her belt, they securely buckled a helmet on her head. For all her physical limitations – mental, too – Corie was ready to climb. She gave me a happy ‘thumbs up,’ turned to the wall, grabbed a rock, and began scaling her way up the towering edifice. I was shocked at the speed with which Corie climbed. This girl had no fear! “Go, Corie, go!” I called, along with everyone else. When she reached the top, she twisted around, gave me a big grin, and waved. Within minutes, she had scooted back down the rock wall and when her feet hit the ground, we all let out a cheer. Corie – as though mimicking Rocky’s boxing victory – kept pumping her arms in the air. One person, however, wasn’t joining in the celebration. Heather was too nervous. This was her very first climb and she stood quietly and timidly as the workers strapped on her harness so she could go up the wall next. Heather has Down’s syndrome, too. “Are you ready?” the staff worker asked Heather, giving her straps a final tug. She just stared at him with a blank expression. “Headder, you are going, too, up?” Corie asked as she took off her helmet. Heather’s expression didn’t change. With that, Corie walked over to her friend, put her arm around her, and said softly: “Okay, it is, Headder. The wall won’t hurt you.” Heather looked up at Corie, then glanced up at the huge wall in front of her. “It won’t hurt you,” Corie repeated. That’s all Heather needed to hear. The next instant, she already had a handle on one rock and was reaching for another. Halfway up the wall, she meekly called down: “It doesn’t hurt!” What a lesson. What a picture. And what an encouragement Corie’s words are to us. Because each of us in our lives faces a wall. Sometimes many walls. A bad medical report ... an unexpected bill ... gossip about us that keeps circulating ... a deep disappointment from a family member ... a nagging physical injury ... fragile emotions that keep crashing ... or a constant struggle against never-ending temptation. But the good news is: the wall won’t hurt you. James 1:2-3 says: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." True, your “wall” may hurt your pride, it may tax your energies, it may bruise your sense of self-reliance ... but it can’t hurt your inner being where the Spirit of Christ strengthens you. Look up. Take heart and say: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). There’s a reason. God has a purpose. He knows all about the wall you’re facing. In fact, he’s gone ahead to show you the way up, out, and over the top of every trial, no matter how foreboding or frightening. So take courage from Corie’s counsel. Get climbing. It won’t hurt you. You can do it ... through Christ, the God of every wall. Joni Eareckson Tada has been a quadriplegic since a diving accident. As president of Joni and Friends, she serves as an international disability advocate. Her UK organisation is Through The Roof (CH), Global House, Epsom KT18 5AD (01732 749955) joni@throughtheroof.org © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.