How Could A Handicap Be A Gift?

As I do the ministry of Christian psychotherapy and counseling, I feel something extra ... "seeing more." For example, many doctors, pastors or counselors counsel you on how to receive healing from specific inner wounds or trauma by citing Scriptures, prescription etc. Yet the "abstract" seems all there is.

I feel blessed because I myself was "abused" or "traumatized" or got sick in my own experiences! That I can say to you that I'm able to understand more deeply what you're going through. Those traumas, abuses, and losses I myself went through taught and developed me to be far more consciously aware of God, others, and life..... "more aware" and "more present" with you in times of crisis! Indeed, how can I lead people face reality and to heal unless I bear the same pain? All of us can help or lead only insofar as we go before.

If you watch one of the videos on the right of this web site, you'll get to know an amazing guy. His name: Nick Vujicic. No arms, no legs. That's him. Dreadfully disabled and handicapped. Yet, God loves him enough to give him that gift of a handicap to bless others around the nations of the world.

Having a broken home or an unfaithful spouse is a handicap. Yet, Anne Brecht authored a book she entitled "My Husband's Affair Was The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me." Watch her at the January 2010 show of Dr. Phil HERE.

Eugene Peterson's translation of the apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12 is "gift." I don't know what exactly was Paul's "thorn in the flesh." It was never concretely identified by Scripture. Maybe, he got physically ill. Incarcerated in prison. Left or disappointed by people. Or, it may well be that Paul was struggling with the limitations of ageing or some loss.

Whatever it was, Paul gladly received his "thorn in the flesh" as a "gift" from God. How? By not focusing on the limitation of his handicap. Paul decided to focus on the "gift" and God's purpose through it ("to keep me from exalting myself!") and appreciate it.

Friend, what's your handicap? Illness? Family dysfunction? Financial bankruptcy or job loss? Aging?

Could this handicap be a gift and blessing from God ... to you? Yes it could. If you find God's purpose in it for you, appreciate it, and take action to bless others.

God's power is something we can all experience in our weakness. "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10).