When my grandmother was dying, I took refuge in her favorite book — the Gospel of John. In its pages, I discovered a comfort I hadn’t expected: Jesus meeting people so personally, speaking into their lives in ways that felt tender, immediate, and real. It’s John’s focus on the intimacy of the conversations Jesus had with those around Him that makes John’s Gospel feel so distinctive and alive.

As I read, I felt the same nearness to Christ that had drawn my grandmother to Him — a gentle presence that reached into my grief and offered peace when I needed it most. It is in these personal encounters, recorded so poignantly by John, that we see Jesus meeting real people in real struggles, which gives a glimpse of the same tenderness He offers each of us today.
Continue reading “Just a Little Talk with Jesus”

It isn’t the big, dramatic stories of injustice that leave the deepest scars. Most often, it’s the hundred small ones. It’s the broken elevator no one bothers to fix, the sidewalk no one cares to clear, the dismissive shrug when I ask for an accommodation. I’m drawn to the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 because of moments like these. Across time and culture, she and I share a common truth: we are among the most vulnerable — the most in need of protection, compassion, and justice. Yet, more often than not, we are the ones dismissed, overlooked, and treated like an inconvenience.

At its heart, the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 encourages believers to remain steadfast in prayer and not to lose heart, even when faced with hardship or injustice. In the story, a widow repeatedly pleads for justice from a judge who neither fears God nor cares for people. Though indifferent to her plight, he grants her justice, if only to be rid of her. Jesus uses this image to remind us that if an unjust judge can be persuaded to act, how much more will our loving heavenly Father respond to His people when we cry out to Him?
Continue reading “Justice Assured: Prayer, Persistence and the Widow’s Reward”

Much like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, independence for people with disabilities is touted as the prize for a lifetime of breaking barriers and defying expectations. The pursuit of it promises freedom and fulfillment. However, the burden of independence is a heavy load to carry. Along with a toolbox stocked with resources, skills, and technology, we are expected to bear the emotional weight of advocacy, education, and the constant pressure to meet and surpass expectations. People with disabilities become figures who inspire when obstacles are overcome and pitied when culture’s expectations cannot be met.

This approach to independence preaches a false narrative and only breeds misconceptions, insecurity, discouragement, and, too often, burnout. It’s time to stop idolizing independence and embrace the kind of freedom that, through Jesus Christ, brings true peace, relief, and joy.
Continue reading “The Burden of Independence”

On the top shelf of our bedroom closet, I’ve hidden a little pink dress and a little blue sweater. Every now and then, I bring them down, remembering the first sparks of hope that led me to buy them — not because I needed them, but because I needed something to hold while I waited. As I rub the silk of the pink bow between my fingers, I imagine holding my daughter as my husband and I dedicate her to the Lord before our church family. I smile, tracing the outline of the truck on the sweater, picturing the first moment my son will be held by his great-grandmother. My heart burns with these images — the visceral longing to become a mother and hold my baby close makes it hard to breathe. As the longing settles into a dull ache, the questions creep up the walls of my heart like ivy, squeezing until I’m overcome with doubt. So, I tuck the clothes back into the closet.

For me, the dream of motherhood is intertwined with the fear of failure. My blindness adds an extra layer of doubt, which I must overcome, not only for myself but for those around me. Many people are surprisingly confident voicing their opinions about my abilities as a blind mother. They question how, or even if, I’ll be able to fulfill the responsibilities of a parent when their own ability to do so is reliant on sight. They wonder, “Can blind women be good mothers?” I believe the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Yet, I find myself grappling with how to balance my desire for a family with the practical considerations that parenting with a visual impairment brings.
Continue reading “When Doubt Meets Desire: Trusting the Lord with My Dream of Motherhood”

“Your funds have been deposited.” The notification chimes on my phone, and I quickly scroll to my banking app to verify. Yes, my disability income has arrived. I’m awash with relief, and I give thanks that I can pay rent this month. Yet, amid my gratitude, another voice speaks, twisting a guilty knot in my stomach.

“You didn’t earn this. You’re entitled, a complete failure.” It’s a voice I’ve grown weary of battling, an echo of a culture that equates productivity with personal value — a narrative that I, as a Christian with a disability, constantly wrestle.
Continue reading “At Work and At Rest: Balancing Diligence with Disability”

Some people are hard to love. Past hurts, personality clashes, and the brokenness of our humanity might convince us that loving others is impossible. But love is not an elusive or mysterious concept. The Bible gives clear guidelines, examples, and encouragement to live out the kind of love God lavishes on us and expects us to extend to others. The 66 books of the Bible have often been called “a love letter from God,” and I cannot think of a more fitting description. From the creation account in Genesis to Christ’s triumphant return and final judgment in Revelation, love is the tie that binds it all together.
Continue reading “As Christ Loves Us”

Each year, the arrival of Christmas awakens a renewed spirit of generosity within the Church. Clothing drives are held for people experiencing homelessness, soup kitchens supply hot meals for those in need, and shoeboxes are filled with gifts for underprivileged children. After all, this is the season in which we joyfully celebrate the greatest gift ever given — the Savior, Jesus Christ. How can we help but share a portion of what we’ve been given with others?

I also find that alongside the physical acts of generosity, I more freely extend spiritual hospitality to others. What is spiritual hospitality? It’s how one cares for and seeks to share the gospel with unbelievers. It involves acts of kindness like sharing clothing, feeding the needy, and living a life abundant in prayer, forgiveness, and a genuine, Christlike attitude. This deeper connection is essential for both their relationship with God and mine. The warmth of Christmas nurtures these desires, leading me to rededicate my faith. This Christmas, I decide, will be a new beginning as I vow to read Scripture daily, devote myself to prayer, and seek to grow closer to God.
Continue reading “From Holiday to Habit: Developing Year-Round Spiritual Hospitality”

Mentorship has often been an enigmatic practice — or so I believed. Its roles were undefined and usually blurred over time, responsibilities ambiguous, and goals unclear. Even so, having a mentor was a sign of maturity, and being one was even more admirable. Yet, without definition, it is doomed to fail, leaving the mentee and mentor lacking the richness and depth that a godly mentoring relationship can bring. It was elusive, and my experiences never lived up to the touted benefits. However, Scripture shows principles for biblical mentorship, and the Word defines and exemplifies the roles and responsibilities of this relationship.

The relationship between Jesus and His disciples is the paramount model of biblical mentorship, demonstrating the qualities godly mentors and mentees must embody for the relationship to prosper. Jesus exudes grace, patience, and an unrelenting desire to see His disciples mature in their faith. In their humanity, the disciples do not always encompass the attributes necessary for spiritual growth, like humility and trust. Despite their shortcomings, their narrative continually points Christians to the true center of biblical mentorship: Jesus Himself.
Continue reading “Live and Learn: Lessons From Ruth and Naomi”

The art of creating is a messy business. Transforming something unrefined into a masterpiece begins with the artist’s conviction of its intrinsic worth. Every blemish, jagged edge, and rough patch bears potential for beauty and can be the means through which that beauty is revealed through the artist’s skilled hands. As the masterpiece is molded and shaped, the glory of the finished work emerges, not only in its renewed form but in the intense love with which it was made.

In the same way, Jesus transforms us. The apostle John contrasts those who reject Jesus by describing the transformative, spiritual birthright Christ’s followers receive through faith in this: “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, ESV). Through Jesus’ loving sacrifice, He redeems enemies of the Lord and adopts them into His kingdom, cleansed from their sin and righteous in His sight. However beautiful and miraculous the conversion from an enemy of God to a child of God is, it is neither easy nor comfortable. Yet, in His infinite grace and wisdom, He knows how to purify us to become the beautiful masterpieces He intended. Still, as gold is refined in fire (1 Peter 1:7), the methods He selects aren’t ones we’d choose for ourselves. Even unbelievers are used as instruments of God’s will to refine the righteous into godly believers.
Continue reading “Refined Through Fire, Transformed by Hope”