The Words That Make Joni Want to Leap

I continue to be encouraged by the life and ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada.

A prolific author of 45 books, Joni has helped millions to better understand God’s purposes in suffering.

She has been paralyzed for over 50 years and knows what it means to endure hardship.

One of her books that I highly recommend is A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God’s Sovereignty. Her wisdom is based on a biblical understanding of the sovereignty of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I came across this article recently that I also commend to you:
The ‘In Christ Alone’ Stanza That Makes Joni Want to Leap
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/in-christ-alone-stanza/

Here is the stanza from the hymn “In Christ Alone” that makes Joni want to jump for joy:

Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

When singing this song, she reflects on how “I’d give anything to join my friends at that point. I’d love to rise from my wheelchair, stand on tiptoe, throw my head back, and cry and laugh at the same time.”

And why is that? Because “No modern-day hymn has captured the heart of the global church quite like ‘In Christ Alone.’ Every line has been doctrinally cut and carved, leaving not a hint of fluff or filler. It presents the full gospel from beginning to end, and perhaps that’s why its truths thoroughly resonate with our spirits.

“You sing this hymn once, and you’re satisfied. Sing it twice, three times, or many times more and you’re still satisfied. Like the gospel, it never gets old. It seems the more you sing ‘In Christ Alone,’ the more the good news in all its beauty and majesty unfolds before you, layer by layer. The song is that powerful, that unique.”

For more biblical insights from Joni, please utilize these resources:

New Resolve After 55 Years in My Wheelchair (article)
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/new-resolve-55-years-wheelchair/

Suffering, Healing, and the Hope of Eternity (podcast)
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/q-a-podcast/suffering-healing-and-the-hope-of-eternity/

May you have a God-saturated day.