Handicaps and Husbands

I am handicapped in a certain area, and my husband is awesome in that area. If I think about it much, I can beat myself up over my weakness. But recently, I realized that I didn’t have to lament my handicap; I could rejoice over my husband. “God is so wise,” a friend said. “He was so wise to put you two together.” Amen. And while I’m looking, staring, obsessing over what I’m not good at, I totally forget all the other things I’m good at—I also forget whose daughter I am. I forget that God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Lately, I found myself meditating on Exodus 4. This is where God calls Moses to speak to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses protests: “Lord, I’m a bad speaker. Lord, I can’t—send someone else.” Well, God’s not pleased with this complaining. Yet despite Moses’ whining, God does not choose someone else. Instead, He sends a helper—Moses’ brother, Aaron—to speak for Moses. I’ve been wondering why God didn’t just choose Aaron in the first place. Why not choose someone eloquent for a job that demands eloquence?

Here are three reasons I can think of: First, God chooses weak vessels so His glory can shine. Second, God wants us to work with others to accomplish His plans. Our work in this life is not about our own strength; as we rely on others, we can learn more fully to rely on God. Third, God sees the bigger picture that we do not. It seems to me that some of Moses’ traits, such as the stubbornness he displayed at the scene of his calling, made him an ideal candidate for leading the whiny Israelites in the desert for forty years.

At the end of the day, if I can’t thank God for my handicap, I can thank Him for His provision of Aaron—or, in this case, my husband, Buc. I can thank God for His wisdom in putting us together and for His larger view that sees what I don’t see in this situation. What handicaps are you facing? How can you thank God for providing what you lack?

Lindsey Gendke