A lament I hear often from those with chronic illness and disability is that they cannot serve others. My heart feels that to the core. I have often thought it as well. I mean, we are struggling to survive and have many limitations. It can feel as if we are not doing anything important.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith, tells of great Christians of the past who are examples of a steadfast faith in God. What strikes me is the list toward the end of the chapter, “32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

You know what I see there? I see a group of people who were considered the least. They didn’t have much. They were afflicted. They were tortured, running for their lives. From the world’s point of view, they were outcasts. Yet, in chapter 12, we see that they are our great cloud of witnesses, our examples, so that we can run the race as they did. “12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

This made me think of some “great witnesses” that I have had in my life. One lady from a church my parents attended years ago, whom I never met nor do I know her name, glowed with a faithfulness that I want to emulate. You see, she suffered from a disability and chronic illness that made life very difficult. She had to come to church with mobility devices. Yet, as soon as she came in, she was swarmed with children and adults alike. Why? She loved them, prayed for them, listened to them, and brought joy wherever she went.

A dear lady in one church, crippled with arthritis, was the prayer backbone of the church. She faithfully came, smiled, and loved everyone. She shared wisdom when needed. Her faithfulness made her a dear friend to all.

Other witnesses are the ones who faithfully attend church rain or shine, snow or ice, even with mobility issues. They slowly, painfully, make their way to church. They arrive with a smile when many others stayed home. They tell you of God’s goodness.

There are the faithful widows and elderly who can no longer leave the house, but who send cards and make phone calls and follow through with prayer. These are the faithful warriors.

We may never know their names. Yet, in their weakness, they are strong in faith. They are strong in the kingdom of God.

Circling back to the way we can feel about our disability and chronic illness holding us back, not allowing us to do anything important in the kingdom. Oh, dear friend, God has a purpose for you. Ask God how He would like you to encourage others. Live faithfully. You never know what impact your example of living faithfully and joyfully for Him will have on others.