God is sovereign over disability and over disabled people. Rather than rejecting weakness or seeing it as a flaw, He works through these very imperfections to fulfill His plans in the world and within ministry.

As Christians, when we encounter disabled people in our midst, it’s crucial to resist the temptation to think, “What did they do to deserve this?” Instead, we should ask ourselves, “What is God doing through this person? How can I welcome them, show them His love, and support the work God is accomplishing through them?”

Jesus’ Solidarity with Disability

The ultimate proof that disability is woven into God’s master plan comes from Jesus Himself. When He came to Earth, He didn’t come in the form of a powerful, untouchable figure. He chose to take on human form, experiencing the frailty and limitations of our bodies. He lived among the weak and the disregarded, embracing the struggles of this world. Even after His triumphant resurrection, He kept the scars of His suffering as a lasting reminder of His solidarity with the broken and the weak. Jesus, the Son of God, chose to leave behind the majesty of heaven to live and die in a broken world, embodying God’s love in a place where He was “despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53:3).

As His followers, we are called to do the same. When we seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we are accepting an assignment—to treat those around us with love and build churches where “the last shall be first” (Matthew 20:16). This is our mission when we encounter disability in the world around us.

The Apostle Paul’s Solidarity with Disability

The Apostle Paul, one of the greatest champions of the Gospel, also faced physical impairment. In his letter to the Galatians, he shares how his physical condition was a test to those he preached to, but instead of rejecting him, they welcomed him. He writes, “It was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the Gospel to you… but you welcomed me” (Galatians 4:13-15). Paul’s story offers us a clear example of what God expects from the Church—welcome and embrace those with disabilities, not despite their challenges, but because they are a vital part of God’s work.

God didn’t discount Paul due to his physical limitations or his past. On the contrary, Paul’s ministry was central to spreading the Gospel, and his writings shape much of the New Testament. His first letter to the Corinthians speaks to the body of Christ and how each member, regardless of their perceived strength or weakness, plays an indispensable role: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12:21-22).

A Challenge for the Church

In a world that often disregards disabled people, Paul’s words challenge us to take a counter-cultural approach. Rather than seeing disability as a defect or weakness, we are called to see it as indispensable to the body of Christ, essential to the Church, and part of God’s beautiful design for His people.