Can you serve God if you are disabled?

Can you serve God if you are disabled?

For a long time, I thought I can't fully serve God because I am not fully physically able-bodied. I thought people think I'm lazy laying around all day, and I fell into the trap of believing what others thought of me, instead of focusing on what God thought of me.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God made me. I am a child of God. I am His. 


So to answer the question of if you can serve God if you are disabled, let's look at what serving God truly means.

In order to serve someone, you must submit to them. Submitting to God first means to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You must repent of your sins and give up your ways of living in the flesh with earthly desires, instead receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and walk through life in the Spirit. 

In doing so it must be recognized that it is no longer about you, it is about Him. Everything you do should be for the cause of Christ Jesus. When you serve someone, you are doing something to help them, to build them up, to give. So when you serve God, you are doing something that will help advance his Kingdom, lead others to Jesus, acknowledge and praise Him as Lord, give of yourself to Him and to others. 


So, can you serve God if you are disabled?

I recognized I was focusing on what I physically cannot do rather than what I can do. I was focusing on what I want to do rather than what God wants me to do. God created me and gave me a purpose in life. That purpose is not the same as anyone else's and that is ok. 

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Turning the focus onto God, submitting to Him, living for Him, following His will rather than my own, I can do all things He intends for my life. 

So yes, you can serve God if you are disabled.


How can you serve God if you are disabled?

First off, prayer. If you are mentally able, you can pray. Prayer is serving God. Prayer is saying hey God it is not about me, it is about You. Prayer is asking God knowing God knows better than you do. Prayer is thanking God knowing God provided all the many blessings in life you have. Prayer is crying out saying without You I am nothing. Prayer is centering your life and focus on the One who created You and loves you.

Prayer is serving others directly through God. Everyone is in need of something whether it be salvation, curing an illness, restoring a marriage, getting out of debt, etc. You can go directly to God and pray for these people in need. 

How else can you serve God? 

Living for God. Period. That line of "What would Jesus Do?" is true. Are you living a life Jesus would live to your fullest ability? Are you representing Christianity and Christ well? We all have our cross to bear. Are you picking yours up and carrying it? When others look at you, listen to you and watch you, can they see Christ in you? 

If you are financially able, you can serve God in that way. Give where there is a need. See your money as being on loan by God, not your own. Everything you do including how you spend your money, is for Him.

Encourage others. Serve God by serving others. Maybe it's not in a physical way, but it is still serving. Connect with others in need on the internet. Reach out to loved ones or even strangers. Join facebook groups and answer that call when someone cries out for help. Be a figurative shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, or a light in a dark world.

Lastly, devote yourself and your time to God. Do you regularly read the Bible? Do you pray throughout your day, not just a quick prayer but living life prayerfully in all things at all times? Do you stand against evil and stand up for your faith and the One who put you here? Do you desire to deepen your relationship with Jesus and grow as a Christian by learning what it means to be a Christian, studying the life of Jesus, and evangelizing even if "just" through the internet? 


Be creative in what you do. But before you do anything, pray. Thank God that He put you here, repent of any sin, accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Then ask Him, God how can I best serve you with the gifts, talents and abilities you have given me? Listen. And then act on those things with a heart for the Lord and a desire to surrender your life fully to Him. God bless you.