LORD OF DISABILITIES AND PHYSICAL AFFLICTIONS

Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

(Exodus 4:11 ESV)

This morning in my devotions I was reading Day 30 of the book "90 Days of God's Goodness," by Randy Alcorn.  I found it was the first time that I have read someone take on this idea of disabilities and physical afflictions from a Biblical perspective.  I found it truly uplifting to know that actually, God is very aware of our physical afflictions, disabilities and suffering.  He does care and loves us, why?  Because he is the one who gives them.  

Randy Alcorn says, "Remarkably, God takes full credit here for giving disabilities. God doesn’t say the Fall makes people deaf, the Curse makes them mute, or Satan makes them blind. God says that he does. He doesn’t attempt to give a full list. But doesn’t he clearly intend us to understand that he also gives people Down syndrome, deformities, cancer, and diabetes?  Just because we don’t like the idea that deformities, diseases, and suffering come from God’s own hand does not alter Scripture.  Our discomfort will not change God’s mind. We don’t get a vote. 

Many Christians deliberately distance God from disabilities and diseases, sometimes arguing that people won’t trust a God who would deliberately dispense such things. Yet I have spoken with disabled people who didn’t find comfort until they finally came to believe that God had made them as they are.  

Right-thinking believers find reassurance in knowing that such life-altering abnormalities don’t happen randomly or because of bad luck but are granted to us with divine purpose. God doesn’t helplessly watch us suffer because of bad genes, an accident caused by Satan, or careless or evil people. Rather, he offers us help in dealing with any disability he has given us….  If we believe that God has made these individuals as they are, then we can love them as he intends."

It is truly remarkable that God wants us to accept our afflictions, deformities and disabilities because he made us as we are!  We are crowning glory of His creation even with our afflictions and disabilities.  It is no wonder that God often used people throughout the Bible and throughout history who had deformities, personal afflictions and disabilities.  Moses, and his speech impediment.  David, and his small stature.  Paul, had personal physical afflictions and was apparently not very good looking.  Today, I think of Joni Eareckson Tada whom God has used powerfully for His glory.  

I am humbled by the fact that God has taught me that God has made us all as we are and loves us completely and I in turn can love others as God has created them.

Inside Out... Personal Impact

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"Most of us are terrified to be open with each other, not because we’re afraid of hurting or discouraging people, but because we profoundly fear that others will retreat from us. We hate to admit that the people we depend on are simply too weak to stay deeply involved once they face all that we are. We don’t want to accept the fact that, since the Fall, no human being has the capacity to love us perfectly." 

~ Inside Out by Larry Crabb

If I were to be really honest, I would say that this is so true in and of my life and heart! 

Transparency

I was really caught by two facts in the quote above in my own words:

1) Even though I think I may be deeply open, friendly, accepting and loving toward others... really deep down it is true that we are terrified that when people really see us for who we are they will retreat. There have been times where I have started to be more open, only to have people close down the conversation, change it or just really walk away. The writer of Proverbs truthfully hit the mark when he said, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)" and "A friend loves at ALL times... (Proverbs 17:17)." Finding a true, honest and open friend who loves us through thick and thin, highs and lows, good and downright bad is a treasure but that is what leads me to the second fact.

2) No human has the capacity to love us perfectly (even our spouses!). I believe that I have unknowingly held people to a higher and more perfect standard of love, respect and care in friendship then is humanly possible.  The truth is, we are all fallen, and we are all affected by sin.   Therefore no one, not even myself, can have a perfect capacity to love in every circumstance in every possible way, which actually brings a greater more profound dimension in understanding the love that God has for us as he lavishes his love on us through Christ bringing us into a relationship with Himself! He can and still does loves us perfectly, despite our sin, evil waywardness, our circumstances. But I, and we, am still commanded to love God and others.  This means, I am not off the hook, I must still love and learn to love with a deeper capacity than I ever have in the past because of what God has done for me. This is where the hard inside work for change begins as I look at my motives for loving and being loved. Just some random thoughts as I meditate on these words for my own life. Feel free to add your own thoughts :)