A Thought on Disability

[Alive again]

Who Thanks God for This?, by Bill Sherrill


In our prayers, we commonly plead with God for strength of body and
good health. We come often in times of trouble. What is much less
common are prayers offered in gratitude for the fact that we, and our
loved ones are, in fact, strong and well. For most of us, it is almost
unbelievable that anyone should give thanks to the Lord for illness or
handicaps. Yet there are many instances of individuals who have done
just that. Men and women who feel that their special gift may well have
depended upon the apparent disability they possess. The best most can
hope for is to learn to accept and find peace with a handicap, but
some, seeing a greater scope of God's grace, actually rejoice in the
doors opened by the shift of emphasis.

Fanny J. Crosby was certainly one of these. At the age of six months,
Fanny was blinded by a poultice placed on her eyes. Rather than
developing with a nature of gloom and anger she showed her bright and
tender spirit early in her life. When she was only eight years old she
wrote:

O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot and I won't!

While she may not be remembered as one of America's greatest poets, she
certainly is remembered as one of the truly special writers of
Christian songs. Just to mention a few of the more than 8,000:

She was blessed with more acute vision.

* "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus"

* "All The Way My Savior Leads Me"

* "Jesus Is Tenderly Calling Thee Home"

* "I Am Thine, O Lord"

* "Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross"

The spirit for finding the good in what others saw as a handicap was
seen clearly as she spoke with a Scottish minister who had remarked, "I
think it is a great pity that the Master, when He showered you with so
many gifts, did not give you sight."

She answered, "Do you not know that, if at birth I had been able to
make one petition to my Creator, it would have been that I should be
born blind." "Why?" ask the surprised minister. "Because, when I get
to
heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of
my Savior," was the unexpected reply.

Fanny J. Crosby was not blind! She was blessed with more acute vision
than most of us will ever possess.

[The LORD says] "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness
light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will
do for them, And not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16 NKJV).

 

[Alive again]

This position, a position of thanks for this illness is one I often find hard to develop in my life. I hate this illness, what it has done to me, the career and life it has taken from me, the stigma and lack of understanding. I spend so much time fighting it, trying to control it, my thinking, trying to figure it out, etc. I often forget to just plain thank God for it and what it has brought to me and my life-the tenderness of heart, the understanding for others, the ability to minister to others going through rough times, depression, etc. I could go on, but for each of us it is different.

 

[4Everloved]

This position, a position of thanks for this illness is one I often find hard to develop in my life. I hate this illness, what it has done to me, the career and life it has taken from me, the stigma and lack of understanding. I spend so much time fighting it, trying to control it, my thinking, trying to figure it out, etc. I often forget to just plain thank God for it and what it has brought to me and my life-the tenderness of heart, the understanding for others, the ability to minister to others going through rough times, depression, etc. I could go on, but for each of us it is different.

I find it hard to thank Him too. Paul praised Him in everything. I can learn to do the same thing. But...will I?

 

[lemonflavor]

God has given me a zeal for Him that I never would have had without this illness. I've grown far more spiritually than I would have without it. Amazingly God's grace and comfort have increased as my condition has worsened. My desire to get to know Him better has increased as my energy level, motivation and enjoyment of things in life has decreased which is obviously His grace and mercy. However I went through a few years where I was just in despair. And the pain always seems to be a couple steps ahead of the comfort.

But in a way I think it's worth it. Sometimes. The question of whether I would trade this illness for the spiritual blessing is one I can't answer.

Just a few weeks ago I was thinking about how I feel I'm more blessed spiritually than anybody in our group Bible study. The most difficult thing is people feel so bad for me and it's almost always about how I'm doing with it. But I pray for them that they would have spiritual renewal.

I feel so awful for those who are suffering so much and feel that God is absent. I know what it's like. If you're not, be sure to pray for spiritual renewal, that He would give you a desire for Him. Obey Him in reading your Bible, praying with thanks in everything, memorizing Scripture etc. That's easy for me to say because despite my condition I have the mental faculty (?) to be able to do these things.

If you're getting counseling be sure that it's Biblical and not just labeled as "Christian". Spiritual maturity reaps far more benefits than any psychoanalysis.

I apologize if any of this sounds like preachy unsolicited advice.

I thank God that the government has labeled me as disabled for the benefits I receive but I identify myself as a child of God.

Babbling...

Thanks for the article.
Jeff

 

[4Everloved]

God bless you, lemonflavor. You are not babbling. You are speaking truth and knowledge that we can all apply!

 

[Alive again]

So nice to hear from you lemonflavor. I for one have missed you around the boards. You speak such wisdom and have a wonderful sense of humor as well. I agree you are speaking truth and not babbling and helped me to refocus where my focus belonged today! Thanks and I love your Tozer quote.

 

[thislifewithinmecries]

I would love to thank God for bipolar disorder, but how do I start to do that ? I don't see where I can find it in me to thank anyone for such a dibilitating disorder. I see where you guys are coming from and wish I could do the same. I need more strength to see it in this light......

 

[lemonflavor]

I would love to thank God for bipolar disorder, but how do I start to do that ? I don't see where I can find it in me to thank anyone for such a dibilitating disorder. I see where you guys are coming from and wish I could do the same. I need more strength to see it in this light......

I don't know if we would necessarily thank Him for having Bipolar Disorder but giving him thanks in all circumstances. Thanks for what He has done and what He will do in our circumstances. And at the most basic level we can thank Him that we are saved. I realize this is extremely hard to do when "in the moment", and sometimes a moment can be a very long time.

Colossians 1:11-12 NRSV May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

 

[Jeshu]

You know guys the promises of God are incredible for those who love Him. What is called bad, God will make good, the sick will be better, inability turn to ability, low to high least to most important...

I would like to point out that mentally ill people suffering depression, especially manic depression - know suffering, deep prolonged even hellish suffering. How close will we be to God in this? God the Father suffering evil, God the Son suffering evil and God the Holy Spirit suffering evil - and all God's holy ones suffering evil - we as well. What reward will this bring us? Will madness turn to intelligence? Low to high, unbalanced to balanced? Weakness to strength?

I sing the joy of my redemption, I shout out victory, I cry my thankfulness, to be known by Him is ecstasy to be comforted by Him is Heavenly. To be forsaken by His love is hellish, to let go of Him bottomless pit stuff - a spiritual black hole that's what it is. Yet haven't I learned! Isn't it really like that for everyone else as well at some stage in their lives. We are often weak yet God will turn to our benefit that's the promise we've got.

Also insights into deep suffering, deepest of depression, raging anger, irritability, crippling addictions, relationship trouble, family upheavals, horrific psychotic episodes - evil visitations - don't we know it all? I have certainly been there and done that - luckily I survived and praise God everyday for having true being - eternal life - all His goodies stacked in my chest paid for and earning interest.

So yes please anyone, ask God for thankfulness, as gifts of Heaven await all who seek Him, especially those who are downtrodden, misunderstood and rejected.

Just read Psalm 21 - and know heirs with Christ means kingship.

Gerry.