Disability: A blessing in God’s eyes

Lynell Dangarembizi : My Perspective

GOD is intentionally elevating the status of disabled people who for a longtime have been marginalised and viewed as a lesser type of a human being even though they are created in the image of God.

In the same way that God raised up Moses who had a speaking impediment to lead the nation of Israel, so from those who are looked and frowned upon by society, God is raising academics, bankers, businesspeople and politicians who will lead our country to the promised land, “’a land flowing with milk and honey”. I want us to look at the story of Jacob. This son of Isaac lived most of his early life as a manipulator and schemer and hurting many people along the way. The Bible says, “You reap what you sow”’ so Jacob in the same way inevitably reaped the results of his own actions, which caused a lot of untold suffering in his life. In depression Jacob turned to God and wrestled with him all night. He had one request; that “You might bless me”. Jacob had such a bull dog determination that he vowed not to let God go until He had granted his request. God could have killed Jacob in an instant, but something in Jacob’s spirit caused God to have mercy on him. So what was the end result? God agreed and blessed him. And how did God bless Jacob? He made him into a cripple and changed his name. God grabbed Jacob’s thigh and dislocated his hip. The thigh muscle is the strongest in the human body, so in essence God turned Jacob’s strength into a weakness. And from that day onwards Jacob walked with a limp. From his encounter with God, Jacob came out with a blessing in the form of a permanently dislocated hip and the name Israel, which has endured for generations I know the question on everyone’s mind is, “Why would God make an able-bodied person disabled?” The answer is simple: disability in Gods eyes is a blessing. Jacob asked God for blessing and received it, in the form of a new name and a disability. After this encounter with God, Jacob’s life changed forever. In God’s eyes no one is born disadvantaged, everyone is born equal and with a purpose. In fact the disabled person can actually have a slight advantage; God actually compensates them for their lack in a certain area. Haven’t you heard of blind people with above average hearing? They can hear sounds that most people miss. People who have the revelation of God actually embrace their disability and would have it no other way, they understand that the secret to their purpose and success in life is packaged in their disability. For those who have read the New Testament let us look at the pattern that Jesus used to heal disabled people. The Lord Jesus would first ask them, “What do you want me to do for you?” In essence, meaning there were more than two possible answers. Sadly in most cases they asked to be healed and missed the opportunity to have their weakness turned to strengths in the hands of God. Why do you think God refused to heal Moses of his stammering and allowed Daniel and his friends to be castrated? Many times the power of God is shown in our weaknesses. Let us not miss what God is doing in this season, the time for grieving and feeling sorry for oneself is over. If Jesus were to ask that same question today, your response should be, “Lord what was your purpose for creating me like this?” Such a question will open a whole new world for you, a world that you never thought possible. Every disabled person has a rare diamond hidden within and to access that diamond our whole attitude has to change. We have to learn to see ourselves the way God sees us. Till next time, “Celebrate Your Uniqueness! Lynell Dangarembizi is the founder of Rare Diamonds Network, an organisation established to, “Celebrate Disability”. Feedback: [email protected] and WhatsApp +263772738117

n the same way that God raised up Moses who had a speaking impediment to lead the nation of Israel, so from those who are looked and frowned upon by society, God is raising academics, bankers, businesspeople and politicians who will lead our country to the promised land, “’a land flowing with milk and honey”.

I want us to look at the story of Jacob. This son of Isaac lived most of his early life as a manipulator and schemer and hurting many people along the way.

The Bible says, “You reap what you sow”’ so Jacob in the same way inevitably reaped the results of his own actions, which caused a lot of untold suffering in his life. In depression Jacob turned to God and wrestled with him all night.

He had one request; that “You might bless me”.

Jacob had such a bull dog determination that he vowed not to let God go until He had granted his request. God could have killed Jacob in an instant, but something in Jacob’s spirit caused God to have mercy on him. So what was the end result? God agreed and blessed him.

And how did God bless Jacob? He made him into a cripple and changed his name. God grabbed Jacob’s thigh and dislocated his hip. The thigh muscle is the strongest in the human body, so in essence God turned Jacob’s strength into a weakness. And from that day onwards Jacob walked with a limp.

From his encounter with God, Jacob came out with a blessing in the form of a permanently dislocated hip and the name Israel, which has endured for generations

I know the question on everyone’s mind is, “Why would God make an able-bodied person disabled?”

The answer is simple: disability in Gods eyes is a blessing. Jacob asked God for blessing and received it, in the form of a new name and a disability. After this encounter with God, Jacob’s life changed forever. In God’s eyes no one is born disadvantaged, everyone is born equal and with a purpose. In fact the disabled person can actually have a slight advantage; God actually compensates them for their lack in a certain area.

Haven’t you heard of blind people with above average hearing? They can hear sounds that most people miss.

People who have the revelation of God actually embrace their disability and would have it no other way, they understand that the secret to their purpose and success in life is packaged in their disability. For those who have read the New Testament let us look at the pattern that Jesus used to heal disabled people. The Lord Jesus would first ask them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

In essence, meaning there were more than two possible answers. Sadly in most cases they asked to be healed and missed the opportunity to have their weakness turned to strengths in the hands of God. Why do you think God refused to heal Moses of his stammering and allowed Daniel and his friends to be castrated? Many times the power of God is shown in our weaknesses.

Let us not miss what God is doing in this season, the time for grieving and feeling sorry for oneself is over.

If Jesus were to ask that same question today, your response should be, “Lord what was your purpose for creating me like this?” Such a question will open a whole new world for you, a world that you never thought possible.

Every disabled person has a rare diamond hidden within and to access that diamond our whole attitude has to change.

We have to learn to see ourselves the way God sees us. Till next time, “Celebrate Your Uniqueness!

Lynell Dangarembizi is the founder of Rare Diamonds Network, an organisation established to, “Celebrate Disability”. Feedback: [email protected] and WhatsApp +263772738117