We Will Have Trouble

0
319

We Will Have Trouble

by Joni Eareckson Tada

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

It was a long, tiring flight, and we were glad to be back. We waited curbside at LAX Airport for the handicap Super Shuttle. It never did turn up. Judy hailed a cab and enlisted the reluctant cab driver’s help to throw me into the front seat. We chugged away from the curb and—clunk!—the engine died. After the police jump-started us, we proceeded up the freeway, crawling at twenty-five miles per hour. Rush hour. I eyed the ticker chalking up miles and money.

We pulled up to my driveway. Judy realized to her horror that we didn’t have enough cash for the enormous cab fare. She marched to the front door, turned the key, and—brrrring!—the house alarm went off. She fumbled with the alarm buttons and let me in. I told her I’d be okay while she and the cab driver went to Ralph’s Market to cash a check. After they left—brrrring!—I tripped the motion sensor! My head was pounding but, no, it was the front door and the Calabasas cops. I screamed, “I can’t open the door!” I couldn’t hear their reply: the phone was now ringing. What a mess! But, ah, we slept well that night.

I shouldn’t be surprised at trials like these, especially on the heels of a ministry trip. I’d like to describe no-show shuttles, kaput engines, and tripped alarms as malfunctioning things possessed by the Devil, but in fact they are simply a dead engine and a perfectly working house alarm. It’s part of the territory that comes with serving Jesus.

If we’re going to stand up to make a difference for Christ, we will encounter more hardship—more obstacles, dead batteries, nuisances, administrative hassles, broken copy machines, and inconveniences—much more than the average couch potato. We shouldn’t be surprised. Such difficulty while serving Christ is not necessarily suffering. It’s leadership.

Help me not to be surprised by trials. Rather help me to expect them.

Taken from More Precious than Silver

By Joni Eareckson Tada

Copyright © 1998
Published in Print by Zondervan, Grand Rapids

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version.

For More Inspiration…

Are you starting to get cabin fever? Joni shares about dealing with isolation and adversity on the blog. Read from Joni

When Yupin attended our International Family Retreat with her two daughters, she found hope in the midst of her hardships. Read her inspiring story on the blog!

Joni shares an encouraging word during these uncertain and unprecedented times. Listen Now to her recent radio program.

Visit Our Website

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.