Before I was married I worked as a counselor at a camp for children with disabilities whose average life span was only 16 years of age. These were children who would fall into the category of the “least of these,” but from whom I learned much. One of the “least of these” was a little orphan boy named Bryan who came to us from an institution in inner city New York, where he had lived his entire life. He came to us having never seen trees or grass and no one had ever shared with him about the love and truth of Jesus Christ. I had the wonderful privilege of leading Bryan to Christ and giving him his first Bible. Every night Bryan would go to bed clutching his new Bible like a child would a security blanket or a doll, and every night you could hearing him praying to God for an hour or more before he fell asleep.
I will be forever indebted to Bryan and the other disabled children who taught me two life changing lessons. The first lesson is that true joy is not found in outward circumstances, but in Christ who lives within. These were the happiest children I ever met in my life despite having everything going against them from a human perspective. On the other hand, I have interacted with children blessed with physical health and material blessing who are some of the unhappiest people I have ever met. True joy is found through a relationship with Christ and everything else is a fleeting mirage.
The second lesson I learned is that God glories in perfecting His strength in weakness. These children did not whine but they shined for Jesus! They taught me there is no future in frustration. Talk about being excited about Christ’s return, these children were, knowing that when they saw Jesus He would heal them!
Like Bryan, I pray God will give you the grace to be content in any and all circumstances through a relationship with Christ, and that He will teach you that you “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” My love and prayers are with you and especially those who are deployed and for their families. Pastor Andy
