Beautifully Broken- A Study For Special Needs ParentsSample

Why Me?

As the parent of a child with special needs, you've probably asked God the typical questions people pose when things go wrong. Why? Why me? Why us? Where are you, God?  Heart felt, heart wrenching questions that should propel us to  scripture where we can find examples of many godly men and women who asked those exact same questions. 

Most are familiar with the story of Job, a godly, righteous man who had been  abundantly blessed when his life takes a horrifying, dramatic turn for the worse. Job loses everything but his wife and his life. And we tend to forget about Job's wife because the book focuses on Job's recovery. But she had lost everything too. And she was emotionally undone.  She had lost her precious children. She was grieving the life she loved. Their wealth had disappeared with the livestock. Their hearts and  minds were a broken mess of despair & anguish. You couldn't fall any lower. But then Job gets sick, really sick. His body is covered in oozing, blackened sores from head to toe. Job is now in extreme physical pain as well. So, what does Job's wife say to support her husband (Job 2:9)?

"Quit holding to your integrity, Job. It's getting you nowhere. This life is unfair. Just curse God for all your troubles and maybe that will provoke Him to take your life too." I'm paraphrasing a wee bit but, it's a close summation. And ouch! That had to sting coming from his own wife.

Job's life is not worth living anymore in her eyes. She holds such a low view of his life due to his circumstances that she thinks he would be better off dead. And we see this in society today don't we? A diagnosis in the womb leads to calls for abortion. A life full of potential pain, adversity, or unknowns is believed by some to be better off not worth living.

Job knew he had no control over God's gifts. God had given him his blessings and so God had the right to take them all away if He so chose. Job knew he was not in control. But Job's integrity was something he could control. Job refused to abandon his faith simply because he couldn't understand his circumstances. Job  refused to take part in his wife's foolish rant and say anything indecent about God.

Don't be fooled though. Job was far from perfect & while he doesn't curse God he soon starts to curse the day he was born (Job 3:3). His heartitude plummets quickly  and Job feels completely abandoned by the God he trusts. He questions God over and over pouring out his heartache in the process.

Job was never, ever alone. God did not abandon him when Job questioned, when he despaired,  when he wished he'd never even been born. And God won't ever leave you either when you are questioning the why's of your circumstances as a special needs parent. God can handle your frustrations & anger. You can trust that He's heard it all before and He understands. Take it to him in prayer.

Reflection:

Have you felt God doesn't see you or your child or care for the situation you are in?

Have you wondered how good can come from your story?