Why Did God Make Me Disabled, Different, and Despondent?

Her name is Kourtney. I will tell her story in a moment.

First, however, I’d like to explain some theological matters about God’s relationship to those who are born with a disability or with limited giftedness and a perceived lack of physical beauty. What is God’s involvement, if any, in the way each of us was formed, our appearance, or who we would strive to become?

Many theologians seek to absolve God of all responsibility for the “mistakes of nature” by posing the argument that because of sin, nature is fallen. Therefore, God has a “hands off policy” about many things in this world such as natural disasters and people born with developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities.

Such a view is neither supported by the Bible or, for that matter, logic. God is not the divine watchmaker who began the creation process then backed off from involvement in the day-to-day events on this planet. Yes, most assuredly, nature is fallen, but every Christian knows intuitively that God is still in charge—that is why we pray for beautiful weather for weddings and protection if we’re caught in a lightning storm. From the book of Job, we learn that even if some horrific event was caused by Satan, it was ultimately permitted by God. After losing ten children to wind and lightning, Job said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of theLORD” (Job 1:21). He affirmed that God had ultimate authority—not nature and not Satan. Job traced such tragedies back to God.

But what about the size, shape and appearance of our bodies? What about those with congenital disorders or intellectual or developmental disabilities?