We can easily see from the scriptures that the Lord Jesus is very concerned about people with disabilities.  In His lifetime on earth, the Lord performed many healings of those who were disabled.

He healed people who were blind. – Matthew 9:27-27, Mark 8:22-25, Mark 10:46-52, John 9:1-7

He healed one who could neither see nor speak. – Matthew 12:22

He healed a man with a withered hand. – Mark 3:1-5

He healed many that were lame, blind, dumb, and maimed. – Matthew 11:5, 15:30

I mentioned many who were healed by the Lord, but even those who continue in their infirmities are still loved and cared for by the Lord.  One well-known event concerning the Apostle Paul is found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  Certainly, the Lord loved Paul and used him greatly, however the Lord decided not to heal him of his infirmity.  Paul learned that in his weakness, “the power of Christ” was able to rest upon him.  In learning that lesson, Paul stated that he could “take pleasure in infirmities…for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Infirmities, sicknesses, and death are all results of sin in the world.  These are not necessarily the direct results of particular sins in our lives, but they are the consequences of sin existing in the world.  I mentioned above about a man who was healed from his blindness in John 9:1-7.  Let’s read John 9:1-3, “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”  Seeing this blind man, the Lord’s disciples falsely assumed that his infirmity was the direct result of his sin or his parents’ sin.  The Lord explained that this man’s blindness was not the result of a particular sin, but for the glory of the Lord.

Even though the Lord may not heal a person of his/her infirmities, His love, power, and mercy are beyond question. We are assured in Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  The Lord Jesus is our High Priest and He is able to empathize with any infirmity or disability we might have.  I have a dear friend who suffers from MS.  As she has aged, the infirmity has gotten worse.  She is not yet in a wheelchair, but she walks slowly with a cane.  Her speech is very slow and sometimes hard to understand.  Yet, she has such an evident love for the Lord.  She has wondered why the Lord allows her to suffer from this MS, yet she trusts Him and seeks to serve Him with all her life.  She is an inspiration to many in a way that she could not be without her infirmity.  Perhaps that is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said “when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Do you suffer from a disability?  The Lord knows all about it and sympathizes with you.  Perhaps His will is to heal you.  Pray about that.  Perhaps it is not His will to heal you.  Pray for understanding.  One thing is for sure, regardless of any infirmity we might have, when the Lord comes for His saints, all will be relieved of their infirmities and will be changed into bodies that are immortal and incorruptible.  (Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.)  When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, He saves us completely…spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  One day, all believers will be in the presence of the Lord with none of the consequences of sin.  What a day, glorious day, that will be!  (368.4)