Disability | Joni Eareckson Tada Shares Her Thoughts About Disability
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- Опубліковано 8 січ 2025
- When Joni Eareckson Tada first broke her neck and became paralyzed at age 17, she fell into despair and self-pity. She couldn’t imagine that God had a good plan for her life. She wanted physical healing, to be free from her disability. Instead God worked through Joni’s disability, through her Christian friends, and through the Bible to give Joni new life in him-and a new heart.
For more than five decades Joni has lived with quadriplegia and chronic pain. Through it she's found contentment in Jesus and allowed him to work in and through her life, reaching millions of suffering people with the powerful message of Christ.
Read more about Joni's unforgettable story! joniandfriends...
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You are a gift to every human who hears you, sees you, feels your touch. Praise be to God.
Amen
Thanks for sharing this! I’m a quadriplegic c3 c4. It’s a tough battle and your videos showing faith in God helps me get through in life. Thanks, Joni! To God be the glory.
For my uncle, it was the summer of 1954 when he dove into a shallow lake at age 15. He became paralyzed (quadriplegic) and the doctors at the time gave him only 5-10 years to live. He ended up toughing it out and was a great uncle to my brother and me. He lived for almost 60 years with his injury. I had the chance to share the gospel with him later in life and I believe he accepted Jesus. I like to picture him running and dancing in heaven and look forward to seeing him again.
Wonderful, I am disabled and chronically sick, I love the Lord and He has brought me a long way these last years in knowing Him, one day I’ll walk with Him. He is my Saviour. Life is hard BUT God is good. I may be living a lonely and isolated life in a physical sense, but I’m not alone really.. thank you Joni a fantastic testimony.
You are a blessing. The simple fact you confess your faith here has more power than you may know. To strengthen others who have no words nor prayers, only grief..you are a light in a dark place. Halleluja
Lm also. Disabled. .please. pray. For. Me..thank. you..lm. in. My. 80"s. And am. A. Widow.you are.such. an. Inspiration.you. are also. Beautiful..blessings
I feel lonely too sometimes bc illness can often leave us by ourselves. But then I think, no I'm not ever alone. Thank you Jesus for...and I have to think of 3 things to thank him for. Prayers for you friend! 🙏
You all sound like wonderful people, and would make wonder Christian friends! God bless you all ❤
Did you write a book about 45 years ago? I remember reading it as a young teenager while visiting Ocean City, NJ. You are the reason why I never dove into an unknown area. I forgot about it until seeing you today watching you as a person disabled in a fall from a ladder. I was so lucky that I did not land on my back or my neck. I’ve been thinking about it and my gratitude lately and was led to you. Thank you.
Joni, every time I hear your testimony, it deepens my faith. You are such and inspiration. I am looking firward to spending time with you, glorifying God, in Heaven!❤❤
Precious, precious lady. God bless you my dear sister.
Joni when I start feeling sorry for myself, I remember you and pray for you. God Bless you! ❤🙏✝️
Joni, you have been an inspiration to me ever since I was introduced to you (through a cassette tape) from my hospital bed back in 1992. God had his arms of protection over me and yes he had a plan for my life. I was only 19 and had a car accident...had my neck broken. there were no promises of if there would be paralysis. I lay in my bed flat on my back for a whole 3 weeks with a metal head band screwed into each side of my head that had a weight hanging from it to keep my broken vertebrae from collapsing. Then I heard the awful word in the middle of the night while the lights were still out. ...hmmm surgery...the bone specialist thought I was still sleeping. When he left, I called my mom crying. God was with me each step of the way. My family was told I could be paralyzed when I come out of surgery...but as it was I couldn't go without it. My attitude at that time was if it happens I'll adapt. I wouldn't be the first to face the life altering challenge. But I wasn't paralyzed. I had a long journey to recovery and those first few months of getting on my feet to walk was frustrating and painful. Onward I had many adverse symptoms that was associated with my neck injury that I took in stride because I was so thankful I didn't have to live from a wheelchair and I vowed never to use one if didn't need to medically. ..not even to sit and rest in it. BUT NOW...I just got my new diagnosis on Feb 13th 2024 that ALL those symptoms over the years were never related to my previous neck injury but it is Multiple Sclerosis. ..and I am learning again the goodness of our God who sustains us in our disabilities. It's been a hard year of unknowns for me and my family. I have had to rely on walking canes, then a walker and now a wheelchair on times as I am losing my mobility. I know God will see me through as he has my entire life. I am encouraged by all your videos and your faith and God. Bless you! Tonia (Newfoundand Canada 🇨🇦)
😢😊😢❤❤❤
Dear sis in Canada, I cannot imagine what you've gone through. Still you are a shining example of god's provision.
A wonderful testimony! Praise the Lord! Thank you, Joni.
Sister Joni, you are such an inspiration to all in this wonderful world!!!🌍 You are truly loved by me and all as God uses you for His glory🔥God’s favor, grace and love to you
forever! ❤✝️❤️🙏❤️
I love her as well and thank God for her. What an amazing sister in Christ we have. Thank you Jesus!!
Christ in me the hope of glory! ❤️🎉💪🙏🏻
Thank you, Joni for your encouraging testimony, and allowing God to work through you.
My pastor was preaching today and said that Depression was a symptom of bad thinking. Jesus is my hope. My husband and I suffer with pain.
I think living in a fallin’ world may also contribute to depression.
@sarahrickman. Bad thinking doesn’t cause depression. Depression can cause negative thinking or worsen negative thinking.
“Depression the way out” by Dr Neil Nedley was a book and program I found as a result to an answer to prayer.
You are on god's agenda. He who said "I will not forsake you" is faithful to the end. Rejoice in suffering just like Paul did because the glory excels it by far.
Mmm sometimes
Sometimes not
I've heard joni say " I would rather be in this chair with Jesus than to be out of it without Him". I was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and the closeness I've experienced with the Lord has been amazing. Like joni if given the choice I will choose the cancer. Praise God and God bless you joni
Bless you Joni you are a beautiful soul.Thank you Lord for your Love and guidance.Amen
Please pray for my 42 year old daughter who had a brain injury 17 months ago. She cannot work and has two young teens. She is angry at God. She and her daughters live with us now. Pray she turns back to God.
Just saw this and will be praying for your daughter.
I pray for your daughter & grandchildren, for her to get beyond her anger at God & reach out to her kids to help them as a family, learn the truth that only comes from God.
You have come to a great place, with Joni . . . God bless this wonderful woman & her INCREDIBLE testimony & dedication.
I'm praying, Carolyn!
Most gracious Heavenly Father, we pray for this precious soul who is struggling with a gamet of emotions, confusion, physical pain,and all that comes with such an injury. We ask that you sustain her through all that she is facing. We ask for your divine intervention, strength, healing, restoration mentally, emotionally, and physically. May the healing balm of Gilead be poured over her from her head to her feet. May she arise and be restored by your power to complete health. In the name of Jesus, we pray.
I understand. I’m upset at God, too, for what happened to me.
Amen sister! Thank you! May Jesus Christ be praised and ALL be saved!!
Thank you for being an inspiration. To a lot of us. I feel guilty for not working. But through all of the last two years being on disability, I have gotten much closer to the Lord so thank you Joni for your great testimony.
Your disability becomes His ability in you and me
My mom was paralyzed c4-5 a couple years after you were, and you helped her get through victoriously.
I have a mental disability and it gets pretty bad in there. My brain sometimes just wants to make so much noise in my head. I remember one time that I believed someone broke into my apartment just to steal a frying pan. I have had so many thoughts that I just wanted to die but that was my brain pitching a fit and the frying pan thing made no sense but I believed it because of my brain and how it was working.. My brain is imperfect but it is just a seed to the new brain that will emerge from the ashes to perfection.. wow I am saved from Hell and I am also saved from my brain. My brain will be new again.. new with no problems, and no need for my medication.
You sound perfectly sane to me, creative use of words, beautifully encouraging - we now live in a horrible place where "evil is good & good is evil" - so what you have said here is REFRESHING to me . . . you are in my prayers!!!
I READ YOUR BOOK WHEN I WAS ABOUT 23-24 I AM NOW 78, I HAVE REMEMBERED YOU ALL OF THIS TIME. I HAVE FOUND YOU EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND BEEN BOTH HAPPY AND SAD FOR YOU. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU FOR YOUR HAPPINESS AND YOUR MINISTRY...
been paralysed since 1984 ages 20, Joni has always been there for me , although being in the UK i have followed for years, thank god for her inspiration
Please pray for my niece Gracie. She has FSHD. She is 15 and is facing a life of disability and does not know Jesus. Thank you Joni for your tireless help and encouragement.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
You are such a beautiful woman inside and out. I too am disabled, but not in the sense that I can’t go and walk and all that I have COPD and I’m on oxygen . I was diagnosed back in 2013 I’m on Social Security disability. I get tired very very easily, but I am going to start some pulmonary rehab tomorrow.
❤Joni thank you for your courageous and hopeful message. I am so glad I found you! I am 59 and am disabled with bipolar disorder and severe back pain. I have been sober 37 years with Jesus and AA. Sometimes I get very depressed and sad, but I still hope Jesus and God will heal me. I have many blessings in my life and I try to focus on those.
Hello Tiffanie
I know how it feels to have chronic back pain. For me, it's so sad but my mom never paid attention to me. My back kills me 20/10 pain level.
When I was 2 years old I was in a car accident I went from being a happy little girl to a little girl that suffered a traumatic brain injury I had a piece of my forehead removed on my left side that left me a scar I asked God why did you do this to me why did this happen to me why did I go from being a normal happy little girl to a little girl that had a learning disability and I asked myself like how am I going to make friends in this world after my accident my family treated me differently like I was like the black sheep in the family here I am 30s but I asked God why am I still in pain I try to live a normal life but that is hard sometimes I asked God why am I still here and why did you spare my life for
I have tendon problems it is getting worse...but, I am not giving up...I am having contractures in my hands and it is not getting the best of me...when I feel those contractures starting I have to stretch my hands until that spasm stops.......I am thankful I can still walk and still use my hands... I don't know for how long, but as long as God has a purpose and plan for me I will be able to do ALL THINGS.......so I'm NEVER giving up.......thanks for sharing your story......it's truly inspiring❤❤❤
I knew you a long time ago when I saw your art work in Hallmark.......and when I saw you drew pictures with artist tools in your teeth it made me that much more in awe of you....... thanks for your continued inspiration❤❤❤
Joni you and Jesus truly help me im in pain physically n disabled n feel so 😔 frustrated most days this also effects emotional n mental health, too, thank you
You just popped up on my UA-cam as I was feeling sorry for myself with a neck and back fracture after falling down some stairs in the dark. I will think of people with disabilities and chronic pain with as much love as God gives me. God Bless you Joni.
You will reign with Christ in His new Kingdom, the fellowship of suffering will turn to abundance in his beautiful arms of love, all mercy and grace holding you into ❤resurrection life, nothing can separate us from His 💕 love
God Bless You Joni.🙏💕💞
I was just talking to my friend recently who IS in a wheelchair now and I mentioned to her about Joni is a anointed speaker from God God bless Joni and friends more abundantly Amen. Luke 14. AMEN 🙏 We love you Joni ❤God shine on you and your family more abundantly
Bless you Joni, your a living testimony to Jesus, and look at all you have done, and how far you have come 👏👏🙏🙌❤
All things are working out together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. Hallelujah! Glory! What a wonderful testimony! So help me God to be there for my disabled friends 🙏🏼
May The Lord keep uplifting you higher and higher Joni Eareckson Tada
3:02 “God permits what he hates to accoomplish what he loves.”
Amen!! Thank you Joni for being a disciple for Jesus!
I love you Joni.
PTL Joni that I was lead to you. I have been loving you since you were painting just after your accident. I absolutely adore you, you are such an encouragement to me to keep going. I often yell out at God asking why or telling Him to just kill me because I can’t live like this. Then I listen to you on the radio, and now UA-cam & you always calm me down & I come to realize there is a purpose under Heaven for me. ❤️❤️❤️
That hatred and anger is the same SPIRIT that nailed our Lord to the Cross. We were not at the Crusifiction in the flesh, BUT WE WERE DRIVING THOSE NAILS IN spirit. ❤
I became disabled due to an accident at work. I walk with a cane and have pain every day. Needed to hear this today. I have always been inspired you. You are beautiful inside and out and the Holy Spirit shines through you Joni!
Our amazing Joni- the Light of JESUS is shining through you!
Million and Million of people are saved and helped and encouraged because of your pain.
Dear Heavenly Father thank You for Joni and her husband 🙏 ❤ please protect and help them to continue the wonderful Mission that You give them .Ameeen!
God Bless you Joni. You have been a light in my world of suffering from chronic pain. I was in a motorcycle accident when I was 19 years old. Pinned under the bike with a young man dying in my arms, as I burned, I cried out to God. He not only saved me physically but shortly after spiritually. 45 years later I truly can say “ For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!! Amen ❤🙏❤️
May the light of Gods Holy Spirit continue to shine from within you and may the love of Jesus continue to emulate from your heart. Amen
truly remarkable story! I will never forget you, Joni! you will always be in my heart
Praise the Lord for a Christian like you. Bless you
My mother had a stroke over three years ago. She is 90 now. It kills her that she can't go and do the things she used to. She was always so active and now she is trapped in her home unless we take her out of it. She has bouts of depression but that is few and far between. Mostly she works to get better and to enjoy life as best she can.
I'm so glad you popped up on my UA-cam. You have an excellent, passionate storyteller and I'm always ready for a good story! I subscribed, I'll stick around and I'll try in my teeny way to be of service to your organization. Thanks again💖
We can praise God for disabilities!!! They can open up doors that we can't open ❤❤❤❤
I remember watching her movie JONI when I was about 12 in church. I'm so glad she is still around!
I recognize your name (Joni) and have heard about you ever since I was a child. Glad you are doing so well! ❤
Thank you Joni. I have heard about you since the beginning of your journey, but from afar. Now i hear you on the radio often and at this moment i van see you face. I think you are great. If you have come this far and have been an overcomer, then so can I overcome. In Christ Jesus that is. May God continue to bless.
My son went to heaven last April after 45 years.
He was at GreeneValley.
I think you have been their!!
When they closed it,he suffered aweful untill God took him home!!
Thank you for your beautiful testimony all these years praising our Savior.
Michael loved you and still does.
I wish I could tell his story but I havent healed yet!!
Love and 🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤ Sam
I read your book as a teenager! I knew I would be a nurse and stand beside the sick and suffering. Your description of your suffering touched my heart so closely to be a nurse and serve those in the hospital. Now 29 years later I’m blessed just like you say. Your wisdom fills my heart.
Hi Joni. 45 or so years ago I was in my late teens, early 20's working for a Christian book seller company in Scotland UK.
I remember, as if it were yesterday, when your book was first published, your story of amazing faith and determination. It was a bestseller and in high demand and I was responsible for sending it out to our customers all over the world.
During the years I often thought about you when suddenly you appeared on my you tube feed page at a time when I feel so afraid of all the sorrow and frightening stuff going on in the world! But suddenly there you are still fighting on in a firm faith with admirable strength of character. More so, you still have the light and love of our Lord shining in your eyes.
You are a real blessing sent from the Lord for me. God Bless you.
Joni, you are such an inspiration. In the ineptness of my heart, you inspire. God bless.
Joni, you are the true light of God. You are looking so sweet. God is all and all we need. Hugs with love to you. Keep on keeping on. God blessing.
You are such an inspiration Joni thank you
Thank you Joni, praise God!❤
❤ Deeply Moving ❤
Thank You!
❤❤❤
You are a beautiful person doing Gods work!! God bless you deeply you and your loved ones always! Xxo
Joni you are an inspiration. I have been dealing with depression and my problem isn't ant way like yours. Thank you for sharing. God bless you. ❤
I was a recent convert(I have my own powerful testimony) at the time of your injury. I remember how you did paintings holding the brush in your mouth! You've been an inspiration! Thank you for staying with us!
Thank you so much for this message. The last few weeks self-pity has been knocking hard on my door due to several lifelong chronic conditions that have been flaring up lately. Even though I know that God is always with me and is always taking care of me it is nice to hear encouraging words and confirmation. May God bless you richly as you continue to raise awareness of disabilities among believers and in the world at large.
Dear Joni, I read your book which was written in the first person and it got me through some real difficult times. God bless you.And you are still witnessing and fighting the good fight of faith. Blessings and lots of love to you and your family.
I read Joni: An Unforgettable Story as a teenager when it was first published. I was inspired that you didn’t let your disability stop you from expressing your creativity through drawing and painting.
Joni, you a amazing young lady. You are such an inspiration.
Chesapeake Bay? That's home for me! Joni, your words are so full of wisdom. My accident occurred just outside the Regent University exit. My dreams and aspirations were left suspended outside of my immediate reach. God permits what he hated ,to accomplish what he loves.
I am disabled as well. Thank you for sharing your story. ❤❤
Hallelujah hallelujah amen Amen praise the name of Jesus 🙏
Please Pray For Me That I Can Be Able To Do Things And Be Fruitful In My Restaurant Job.
I understand your frustrations. I’m chronically ill and isolated, but God is teaching me every day and your life is an inspiration to me in so very many ways. God bless you. I won’t be “normal” but my soul is a work in progress. God is so great. 🙏🏻💜
My sister is blessed by your messages Amen 🙏. Most important is a New heart in Christ. God loves you all Amen 🙏
Joni your work and grace and testimony speaks life…it speaks straight to the heart of truth telling..testimony and evidence of Christ centred focus and purpose…the promises are rich over you..your a treasure and you have great legacy
Thank you Joni, appreciate you and your testimony. God bless you.
You are a beautiful blessing.
Inspiring message thank you, for your testimony ❤
Hi Joni. I am really inspired by your talks. My mother bought your first book for me in 1976 at age 16. I am now 64 and the fact that you persevered is astonishing to me. God had a plan for you, even though you didn't realize it. God Bless you.
3::02 ““God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves.”
Thank you God-Jesus for not forgetting the disabled and touch and help and comfort and protect and bless them in Jesus name.Amen!✝️🙏🕯️🦋
I have been disabled from birth in 1967. Your song, I'm Willing Lord, had always helped me out. I got Saved March 4, 1973. I saw your bio movie a long time ago. You were & still are an inspiration to me. God Bless you 🙏 ❤️ ✝️
Today is the 13th of March @ 8:09 am...
Thank you so much for your encouraging words, I truely need to hear them today...
I have been disabled for 22 yrs. I going to 60 in September God willing...I feel exactly like you said you did when you were told you won't walk...I am struggling every day to rise up and be the mighty woman God created...Chronic pain can and does kill the human spirit and I want to remember that the spirit in me belongs to God, that I need to rise up and give him glory for each and everything he brings my way....I listened to you on KSGN when we lived in Riverside CA, and was very glad to see you on you tube...Thank you for your ministry.❤❤❤❤
Thank you, Joni. Love you ❤
I believe God answered my prayer in putting your video before me today. I have such a minor disability, arthritis in both knees and hips. Recently it's become very challenging and painful and I struggle to get around, even in the house. I was feeling so down and miserable as I mourned my physically able self. I prayed for healing but if that wasn't God's will, I prayed for help to endure. Flash back and as a child, when I first found Christ, I read Joni's book. I found it incredibly moving but of course, I was a very able bodied then. This morning, I sat amd opened UA-cam and up popped this video. Tears are steaming down my face as my strength floods back to me through my memory of the story of others. Thank you Joni and friends but most of all... Thank you God 🙏
Bless you! 🙏❤️
Amen Joni I read an old calendar that you wrote many years ago everyday. God Bless you, I have learned so much from you! Thank you for helping me grow!
Thank you Joni! Amen! Thank you Lord Jesus 🙏 ❤
I have been thinking about you
alot lately & praying for you. Have not heard about you in many years. God Bless you.
I have been disabled since 1992. 24/7 pain. God is my everything!!!
Your testimony is one that God has used to debunk all the faith healers who say “If you are not healed, then you don’t have enough faith”. Joni, like the other commenter has made, you life & testimony has touched more people you will ever know! You will know the extent someday when you will be singing and dancing in heaven with Jesus! I will introduce myself and say sister, I am one of those people you touched with your ministry on earth! God bless you and I love your art & paintings!
Thank you, Joni, for sharing your wonderful testimony as an encouragement to us❤
Praise God for your testimony Joni ❤ Jesus is our only hope 🙏📖🙌🏼❤️🕊️
Thank you so much Sister! God is using you in so many ways! God bless you!❤️🙏🏼✝️
Blessings to you POWERFUL MESSAGE PRAISE YE THE LORD ❤
Love Joni, her presentation is just as eloquent and heart warming now…as it was at, “The Masters University” (College) in 1985-1986 .
Thank you dear Joni for your message.❤
This is truth spoken beautifully!❤ Folks, support this wonderful ministry. Thank you ,Joni and Ken for this ministry!
I have learned a great deal about suffering from a Christian doctor whose name is Tim Jennings I found an interview by him entitled an interview with Dr Tim Jennings called could it be this simple this interview really helped me an understanding why God allows things to happen in our lives that we think it's the worst I encourage everyone to check out this interview again it is called interview with Dr Tim Jennings entitled could it be this simple This truly helped me understand more about the wonderful character of God ❤ God bless you sister you and your husband are in my prayers ❤❤
Joni, you are such an inspiration to those of us who have chronic diseases!!!!! I pray for you and Ken everyday!!! I have been ill with 2 incurable diseases for 38 years--an RN disabled at age 37--2 boys to raise--my husband long gone!!! How thankful for my strong Christian parents and my own faith!!! God has never left a need unmet!!! When I feel I just can't bear the pain--I think of you!!! I look up to the ceiling and say to God--ok--I am still here -so I get up and do what I can still do---I pray!!!!
You’re my inspiration. I have severe mobility issues & seven surgeries one my left foot & it’s so easy to give into self pity & anger. Thank you for this message. God bless you Joni.
God Bless you Joni, you are a true Warrior in Christ. I will see you soon running in the golden streets of heaven. The race is almost complete, our reward is waiting for us. Hold on, Jesus is on His way. ❤
More courage than I can imagine. I could not live like that.