Friday, August 26, 2022

Comfort, strength, and hope

Joni Eareckson Tada was born in 1949. As a consequence of a misjudged dive she has lived as a quadriplegic since she was 17. She is a Christian. Like most Americans I became aware of her when Joni: The Unforgettable Story of a Young Woman's Struggle Against Quadriplegia & Depression was published in 1976. Her newest book is Songs of Suffering: 25 Hymns and Devotions for Weary Souls. I learned of the book from a post by Challies and ordered it. Tim Challies:
Few people have a sweeter and kinder spirit than Joni Eareckson Tada. Few people have suffered longer and more consistently than Joni Eareckson Tada. These two things—sweetness and suffering—do not necessarily go together, but by God’s grace they can and often do. They most certainly do in Joni’s life which is one of the reasons so many of us admire and honor her.

One of the keys to Joni’s suffering is singing. As she suffers the effects of her paralysis, as she endures chronic pain, as she persists through illness, she sings. And it’s out of her singing-through-suffering that she brings a new book titled Songs of Suffering. This book is a series of devotionals based upon 25 hymns that have proven especially precious to her. ....

She divides the book into three sections: Songs of Comfort, Songs of Strength, and Songs of Hope. .... (more)
From Amazon's description:
  • A Beautifully Designed Book from Joni Eareckson Tada: Includes 25 hymns with sheet music, devotionals, and photography
  • An Uplifting Call to Worship: Emphasizes the Bible’s command to sing and leads readers in hope-filled praise
The hymns:
Songs of Comfort Songs of Strength Songs of Hope
Be still my soul
Jesus, lover of my soul
Abide with me
It is well with my soul
Come, ye disconsolate
Wonderful peace
Whate'er my God ordains is right 
Jesus, I am resting, resting 

O church, arise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise
Dear refuge of my weary soul
Were you there (when they crucified my Lord)? 
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted
When I survey the wondrous cross
O sacred head, now wounded
Faith is the victory
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
I must tell Jesus
Come, thou long expected Jesus
Standing on the promises
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
For all the saints
Far from my heavenly home
Face to face with Christ, my Savior
When we all get to heaven

Tim Challies, "Joni’s Songs of Suffering," August 26, 2022.

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