The Everyday Pastor How to Care for Sufferers (with Joni Eareckson Tada)
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Jun 2, 2025 
Joni Eareckson Tada, founder of Joni and Friends, shares her profound insights from decades of living with quadriplegia. She discusses how her experiences have reshaped her theology of suffering, emphasizing the importance of focusing on Jesus rather than just the pain. Joni offers practical advice for pastors, urging them to comfort those in suffering with compassion and to engage their churches in meaningful acts of service. She also highlights the role of hymns in her life, using music as a source of strength and hope.
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A Turning Point In 1967
- Joni described her 1967 diving accident that left her a quadriplegic and plunged her into despair and depression.
- Faithful prayers and loving support from Christians helped lift her out of that dark season.
Suffering Teaches Love For Christ
- Joni realized suffering's main purpose is to teach greater love for Jesus rather than to mechanically list benefits.
- Focusing on Christ is healthier than trying to catalogue every good that may come from pain.
Prioritize Presence Over Explanations
- Don't answer 'why' with mechanistic theology when people are hurting; offer presence and compassion first.
- Reach down, pick them up, and point them to God's care and the cross instead of giving abstract explanations.
