My weakness, that is, my quadriplegia, is my greatest asset

The words of Joni Eareckson Tada are like a flame burning in the darkness, for they turn what the world calls defeat into a song of victory: “My weakness, that is, my quadriplegia, is my greatest asset because it forces me into the arms of Christ every single morning when I get up.” These words strike deep, for they reveal a paradox older than time itself — that in weakness lies the seed of strength, that in suffering one may discover treasures greater than health, wealth, or worldly triumph.

The meaning of this saying is woven with divine mystery. For Joni, her quadriplegia — a condition that most would see as unbearable — became not a curse, but a teacher. Each day, as her body denied her independence, her spirit was drawn closer to the Source of life itself. She discovered that what chained her limbs freed her soul, and what broke her body lifted her spirit. In being forced to rely on Christ, she found a strength far greater than the one she lost. Her weakness became an asset, because it opened a path to humility, dependence, and unshakable faith.

History has known this truth before. The Apostle Paul himself once wrote, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Struck by a mysterious affliction he called a “thorn in the flesh,” Paul begged for its removal, yet was told by God, “My grace is sufficient for you.” From this he learned that weakness is not shame, but doorway — a passage through which divine power enters the soul. Joni’s words echo this same eternal revelation: that suffering, endured with faith, can bring a human being closer to the eternal than victory or ease ever could.

Consider also the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, stricken by polio and confined to a wheelchair. Many believed his weakness would end his public career, but instead it gave him a deeper empathy and a firmer resolve. His physical frailty did not prevent him from guiding America through the Great Depression and the fires of World War II. Like Joni, he transformed weakness into strength, not because his body was healed, but because his spirit grew larger than the body that contained it. His disability became the wellspring of resilience, and his reliance on others became the foundation of his greatness.

The origin of Joni’s words is found in her own story of tragedy and redemption. As a young woman, she was paralyzed after a diving accident. At first, despair consumed her; her body, once strong and free, had betrayed her. But through prayer, perseverance, and faith, she rose from bitterness into radiance. She became an author, a speaker, and a voice for countless people with disabilities, proving that a life seemingly broken could become a vessel of light. Her greatest asset was not her talent, nor her body, but the very weakness that forced her to depend utterly on the grace of God.

The lesson for us is mighty: do not despise your weaknesses, your struggles, or your limitations. They may be the very soil in which your deepest strength is planted. Do not curse the burdens that humble you, for they may be guiding you toward greater wisdom. Instead of asking, “Why must I bear this?” ask, “What power may I discover through this?” For every weight that bows the body may lift the soul, and every limitation may awaken a deeper reliance on love, faith, and courage.

So, children of the future, learn from Joni’s testimony: rise each morning, not lamenting what you lack, but embracing it as a hidden gift. Let your weakness drive you to seek strength beyond yourself. Let your struggles carve in you a space for grace. For the truth she proclaims is eternal: the arms of God are most easily found not in the heights of power, but in the depths of need. And when you discover this, you will know what the ancients knew — that the weakest among us may be the strongest of all.