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Divinely Disabled: A 30-day Devotional to Discovering God's Heart for the Disability Community - Softcover

Mossburg, Nadia Ibrahim

 
9798217152056: Divinely Disabled: A 30-day Devotional to Discovering God's Heart for the Disability Community
Softcover
ISBN 13: 9798217152056
Verlag: Clarkson Potter, 2026

Inhaltsangabe

A thirty-day devotional offering encouragement and hope for anyone who has ever felt isolated by their disability, any friend who wants to be a true ally, any church leader who wants to build a community of belonging, and anyone who has ever asked, “God, why me?”

“In a world that often misunderstands disability, this devotional invites us into a deeper and more compassionate way of seeing one another with dignity, belonging, and spiritual depth.”—Jen Hamilton, RN, BSN, CEN, RNC-OB, New York Times bestselling author of Birth Vibes

For too long, the conversation about faith and disability has been limited to platitudes, pity, or prayers for physical "fixing." This has left people with disabilities—over seventy million US adults—feeling isolated, misunderstood, and spiritually adrift. Divinely Disabled, a 30-day devotional that gently disrupts and alters common perceptions of disability and faith in a deeply comforting and profoundly challenging way, offers a new perspective.

Nadia Ibrahim Mossburg writes from a powerful intersection as a dedicated Jesus follower, a woman with cerebral palsy, and a senior disability policy adviser. She masterfully blends her personal story with each daily devotion, which includes a reflection, a closing prayer, and a practical Share Your Story section with prompts and tailored actions for those living with a disability, family members and caregivers, and ministry leaders. Over 30 days, this book will help:

  • Validate the unseen battles and complex spiritual questions that come with disability.
  • Challenge ableism and equip readers to recognize and respond to harmful attitudes within the church.
  • Empower individuals with disabilities to find their unshakeable purpose and value in God's design.
  • Equip pastors, leaders, and caregivers with the language and perspective to move beyond mere inclusion.

Whether disability has touched your story only recently or has impacted your life since birth, this inspiring and supportive resource calls you to reflect on your own experiences and become an advocate for a more inclusive, compassionate world.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Nadia Ibrahim Mossburg, born with cerebral palsy, uses her degrees in English, journalism, and social work, as well as her experience as a senior advisor in disability policy, to improve disability policy at the national, state, and local levels. For over two decades, she has advocated for greater equity, better employment, emergency management, public health, and public transportation. Over more than three decades, she has also led Bible studies and served on many teams at her church. Nadia and her husband, Mathew, live in the Nashville area with their three cats and Watson, Nadia’s third service dog, who is enjoying retirement.

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Introduction

Preparing for the Journey

At some point in your life, disability will touch your story. You may be thinking, Are you sure? But there’s no doubt in my mind, friend. Consider whether you or someone you know fits one or more of the following descriptions:

DEMONSTRATES A PATTERN of social avoidance that exceeds normal shyness

STRUGGLES WITH FOCUS and organization, to a greater extent than simply being “disorganized”

NEEDS A DARKENED ROOM and/or frequent breaks due to a health condition

EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTIES HEARING and/or often asks others to repeat themselves

IS IN RECOVERY for misusing or abusing alcohol and/or over-the-counter medication, prescriptions, or illegal substances

IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING (or has undergone) cancer treatment that affects their ability to complete daily tasks and/or impacts their physical and mental wellness

LIVES WITH A CHRONIC CONDITION or a short- or long-term disability

CARES FOR AND/OR SUPPORTS someone with an illness, injury, or disability

A “yes” to any of the above statements means disability has been woven into your story. If it hasn’t yet, chances are it will be. Disability transcends age, race, gender, education, income, and employment status. Some are born with disabilities, while others acquire them through illness, injury, or aging. Wherever you find yourself today, please know you are not alone.

When I was about twelve, the reality of living with a lifelong disability hit me like a freight train. I remember thinking, Why do I have cerebral palsy (CP)? Why am I one of the 1 in 4 people with a disability in the United States and the 1 in 345 children born with CP?

If you’re not familiar with CP, it is a central nervous system condition. It affects my brain’s messages to my muscles. The nature and severity of CP vary depending on several factors, including the extent of the brain injury in a young child and/or length of time the brain goes without oxygen. My type, known as spastic CP, is the most common and results from damage to the cerebral cortex (the brain’s motor area). Muscle tightness, joint stiffness, and jerky movements characterize the condition. In my case, it affects all four limbs and is not typically painful. Although I require assistance with daily activities, I’m fairly independent once in my power wheelchair.

Disability Statistics

Globally, one billion people—more than fifteen percent of the population—live with a disability, representing the world’s largest minority group. Only five to ten percent “of the world’s disabled are effectively reached with the gospel, making disability community one of the largest unreached—some say underreached—or hidden groups in the world.”

In the United States, more than seventy million (one in four) people live with a disability. The difficulties they encounter contribute to significantly higher rates of mental health distress, making finding hope and healing essential. While faith has proven to be a powerful force for positive mental health, the intersection of faith and disability often remains fragmented and incompletely explored.

Living with a disability or chronic illness profoundly impacts all aspects of life. Beyond the physical limitations, emotional distress, and social isolation, people may face additional challenges, including navigating public conversations and adapting to new circumstances. Spiritual questions often arise amid these experiences: If God is so loving and powerful, why did this happen to me? Will my life ever be “normal” again? These questions can leave individuals feeling lost and alone.

Even if you are not personally living with a disability, you may be one of the millions of Americans dedicated to caring for loved ones with disabilities or chronic illnesses. A 2023 Guardian Life Insurance Company of America report indicates that 100 million Americans provide care to family members with disabilities.8 Additionally, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that 37.1 million people provided unpaid eldercare in 2021–22.

Directly caring for or even watching a loved one struggle with affliction can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. You may have your own questions and challenges: Why did this happen to them and not me? What is this journey going to look like for them and me? How will it impact our relationship? And how am I going to hold it together? These questions can often consume our hearts and minds.

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Verlag
Clarkson Potter
Erscheinungsdatum
2026
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 13 
9798217152056
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
192
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Verantwortliche Person
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