Isn't everyone made in the perfect image of God? Invisible or visible disability, or with or without a disability? Everyone who has been created, God sees as special. Even if you don't love God or believe in him or not. He created you. For years I have been to a camp called Timberwolf Lake and I was with a group called Capernaum who had people with special needs. There were a couple times when we were at camp where we would all sit together and talk about God and give our testimonies. Whenever they shared their testimonies I would always get emotional for them too because I could feel God's love for all of us.We would sing songs of worship together it was pretty powerful and just beautiful to be a part of. Throughout my times at Timberwolf Lake we learned a lot about each other and started to understand each other. When you get to know people even with disabilities, don't judge them before you even get a chance to talk to them because you know, everyone of us has our own testimony. You never know, we might surprise you. I recently just came across this verse I would like to share with you which is
John 9:2-4 "His disciples asked him, Rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the works of God might be DISPLAYED in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work"
What this verse means to me is those who have disabilities, like I do, whether it is 22q Deletion Syndrome, or Down Syndrome or Autism God has a plan for us. Or if you just struggle in general, this verse tells me that God gave us our disability/challenges for this reason so that his works may be GLORIFIED in us. I have truly seen this happen in my life I can say. When someone is weak (not necessarily weak) God can make them strong and God can be glorified throughout all of our struggles. I have seen that happen in my life. Even though God has given me 22q Deletion syndrome and even though my struggles aren't visible to everyone, God has helped me do stuff that I never thought I could do. He has helped me and is helping me more to become a better version of myself. Through everyone of us and our struggles may we see Gods glory.
As I searched for examples of God's love for those who have disabilities, I found this at BeThinking.org and found it to be helpful:
"Perhaps the best known example is Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. He was the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. He became disabled when his nurse fell with him in her arms as she was trying to flee from danger. We don't know if he suffered injury to his legs or brain injury affecting the motor responses in his leg muscles, but either way he had a mobility impairment for the rest of his life. When David became king, he made enquiries as to whether there was anyone left from the house of Saul to whom he could show kindness for his friend Jonathan's sake. When he found Mephibosheth, he did not single him out for his disability – he simply did what he would have done for any son of Jonathan. Nor, when he discovered his disability, did he recoil from honouring him; he treated him exactly as he would have done if Mephibosheth had been a powerful warrior. He welcomed him to his table, gave him Saul's land and provided servants to farm it for him. This story becomes a powerful metaphor for the kingdom of God, where abled and disabled people sit together side by side as equals at the feast table."
