Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope - A Note Inside of a Wheelchair

0:00Welcome to Johnny Eric Santata's Sharing Hope, and here's Johnny teaching us how to encourage others with God's Word. And I will never forget a certain speaking engagement. It was an especially busy trip. It was winter time in Chicago. I had been up all day, first speaking at a pastor's brunch, then an interview, then a visit to the rehabilitation institute of Chicago, and finally that evening I spoke at Moody Bible Institute. I don't know how I allowed my schedule to get that full, but by the time I finished speaking at Moody, I was exhausted. That was okay though, because there were some people in wheelchairs to greet who had waited around, and I thought, you know, if they can hang in there this late, I can too. Afterward my husband Ken wrapped me up warmly and told me to wait inside the church, while he went out to start the van and lower the mechanical lift. While I was sitting there, my eyes half closed, I was so tired.

1:02A young student from Moody Bible Institute came up and slipped a sealed note between the side of my wheelchair and my leg. She just gave me a warm smile and said, Miss Johnny, just read it when you get a chance. And with that, she was gone. That night back in our hotel room, as Ken helped me get my coat off and scarf, we noticed the envelope by the side of my leg. He casually placed it on the bedside table, not giving it a thought, neither did I. Later though, when I was tucked in bed and we were talking about the busy day, I wondered out loud if such a heavy schedule was worth it. Ken happened to reach for the little envelope and casually opened it. Then he stopped me mid-sentence and said, huh, wait, no, you got to hear this. And then he read the note, actually it was not a note. The student had simply written down 2 Corinthians 9 verses 12 to 15. And this is what it said, Dear Johnny, this service that you perform is not only supplying

2:06the needs of God's people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourself, men will praise God for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift at the close of the verse. The student had made a little happy face and wrote, Thank you Johnny, your friend Susan. Oh my goodness, it's all I needed to hear, really, honestly, that quickly God's word put the busy day into perspective. And it made all the difference on the rest of that trip to Chicago. It is amazing how far a little encouragement will go and it is so easy to give it, especially in a handwritten note, such as that student gave me. And when you include a scripture, that's where the encouragement takes on supernatural

3:08power. Because friend, there are people all around you today who are hungry and thirsty for an uplifting word. A neighbor who is sick, a coworker who's smart with work, a student who's struggling, give up lifting words today in a note, along with a Bible verse. Listening friend, who's the Lord putting on your heart right now? There is someone in your circle of influence who's desperate for some biblical encouragement. And Jesus wants to use you to deliver his message. You could do that in a text, but make it personal, write a note of encouragement in an old-fashioned card, and remember to include a heartwarming scripture. Pass on encouragement to day friend, pass on God's word.