As parents or caregivers of someone with special needs we often have hard seasons; times where “troubles assail us” as the hymn writer once wrote. Perhaps you have a ‘Plan B’ in your back pocket for unexpected situations or you have a mental list of who to call or where to get help when needed, but there are times when we don’t have an inkling of an idea of what to do next or how we can continue in the hard times. Our human nature wants to be in control and fix the situation and we find it hard to trust that “God’s got this” when the situation seems to have no end.
Do you trust that God has a good plan for your special needs child? Is your answer a resounding yes, or perhaps more of a yes, but?
In Mark 9:23-24 we see a similar situation. Here we have a father who is trying to find healing for his son. His situation is critical, and he has tried several things and even Jesus’ disciples have been unsuccessful in healing him.
When Jesus appears in the crowd, the father says to him, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” v 23
Jesus responds “ ‘If you can’?” Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Can you imagine saying to Jesus, If you can? I’d like to think that the father was just beside himself when the disciples couldn’t heal his son and said the words without really thinking through what they would sound like. Or perhaps he was at the point where he was so full of doubt that anything would work that he truly wondered if Jesus could or would heal him. Perhaps he had resolved that nothing would change, and his attitude rolled over into his speech. Whatever he was thinking, Jesus’ gentle rebuke prompted a response that we can learn from. “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Help me when I falter, Lord. Help me when I doubt you. Help me when I try to fix it before coming to you. Do we believe that He loves our children far more than we ever could and His plan for them is good, even when it may not seem that way? Do we trust Him, because of the hard times?
Here are three reasons why we can and should trust Him and believe His plan is good.
1. His Word tells us it is so
Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…”
Psalm 16:6 and Psalm 11 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” (6) “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” (11)
2 Peter 3:13 “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (We have hope)
2. We’ve seen testimony in previous generations that it is so
Read the stories of those who have gone before us like:
Horatio Spofford, 1873, Author of the hymn, It is well with my soul.
Corrie ten Boom, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 1892-1983, Holocaust survivor
Elisabeth Elliot, 1926-2015 “God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.” Wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliot and author
3. We’ve seen it in our own lives
Make a list of the ways God has been faithful to you in your special needs journey
Ask others to share with you how He has been faithful in their journey
Thank him for his faithfulness and ask him to renew your trust in His plan for your story
Prayer
Father, we believe, help us in our unbelief. Our faith often falters but we know this to be true, that your sovereign will is good. We entrust our children into your hands and trust your plan for their lives, even if we can’t see it now. Father, we look forward with hope to the new heaven and the new earth that you promise to those who believe. In the name of your son, Jesus, Amen
Mary Underwood has been involved in disability ministry for over a decade. She currently has a website called What Empty Nest where she encourages parents of young adults with special needs. She serves on the board of Hope Learning Center, Perkasie, PA, a non-profit that works with young adults on the Autism Spectrum, preparing them for college and independent living. You can find her at www.whatemptynest.com or reach out to her at mary@whatemptynest.com.
