The Humility of Disability - Encouragement Café - July 1

The Humility of Disability
 By Andrea Pierce

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.   Exodus 9:16

I don’t know what my life would look like if I weren’t disabled, but I’m fairly certain that I wouldn’t be the woman I am today.  In writing this, I’m in no way saying that my disability is my crutch, or blanket excuse, for not being humble in nature.  I think we all struggle with humility.  I’m simply saying that my disability has made me humble in more ways than I could ever imagine.   That’s why Paul and Moses are two of my most favorite people in Scripture. 

Paul and Moses each had a moment of humility with God, where they had to surrender their pride and walk humbly into the calling God had placed on their lives.  For Moses, it was his fear and inadequacy for public speaking.

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”                                                 

Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”  Exodus 4:10-17 NIV

There is just so much I want to say here, but we would be reading a twenty page thesis.  Here’s my brief synopsis of the humility of disability from Moses’ story: His speech impediment drove him to seek humility,  but that only happened after he chose to surrender his fear of inadequacy, so he could pick up his staff, as God had told him to do from the beginning of the conversation.

I can personally identify with the testimony of Moses, as I have experienced a very similar and humbling situation myself.  I firmly believe that disability of any sort can lead us into greater humility with Christ, if we afford ourselves the opportunity to see the humility of disability.

So, now, I want to challenge you by asking, will today be the day that you choose to surrender your pride and pick up your staff?  God has given all of us a staff.  If you don’t know what yours is, ask God to reveal it to you.

Sweet Jesus, thank You for the humility that comes from disability and the power it possesses for us by Your Holy Spirit.  Give us grace and truth every day as we do our best to seek humility in all things. In Your Name, Amen.

For more encouragement, visit Andrea at Pure In Heart.

© 2020 by Andrea Pierce.  All rights reserved.

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