As the parent of a child with special needs, does your heart ache with questions, confusion, or discouragement? Do you ever feel that you have no margin in your emotional reserves or sense a gaping need for encouragement, rest, and refreshment? Caring for someone with autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, emotional or behavioral disorders, or physical disabilities can be all-consuming. Bible Promises for Parents of Children with Special Needs can help you claim God’s promises for your everyday life. You’ll become more aware of God’s passion for you and your child through this handy guide that speaks directly to the unique journey of special needs parenting. These promises are for your comfort. Claim them as your own. Pray them over your family and over your children. Let them guide you into the presence of Jesus and the security that only he can provide.
Bible Promises for Parents of Children with Special Needs
By AMY E. MASONTyndale House Publishers
Copyright © 2017 Amy E. Mason
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4964-1727-5Contents
Abandonment, 1,
Abilities, 2,
Abundance, 3,
Acceptance, 5,
Adoption, 7,
Advice, 9,
Advocate, 10,
Affirmation, 11,
Ambiguity, 12,
Anger, 13,
Apathy, 16,
Assumptions, 17,
Attitude, 18,
Beauty, 21,
Beginnings, 22,
Behavior, 23,
Bitterness, 25,
Blame, 28,
Blessings, 29,
Brokenness, 31,
Busyness, 32,
Caring, 34,
Celebration, 35,
Change, 37,
Children, 38,
Church, 40,
Comfort, 42,
Comparisons, 44,
Compassion, 46,
Condemnation, 47,
Contentment, 48,
Control, 50,
Crisis, 52,
Death, 53,
Decisions, 55,
Deliverance, 56,
Diagnosis, 58,
Disabilities, 59,
Discouragement, 61,
Doubt, 63,
Dreams, 64,
Embarrassment, 65,
Emotions, 67,
Encouragement, 69,
Endurance, 71,
Energy, 72,
Escape, 74,
Eternity, 76,
Expectations, 78,
Faith, 80,
Family, 82,
Fear, 84,
Finances, 86,
Forgiveness, 88,
Friends, 90,
Frustration, 91,
Fun, 93,
Future, 94,
Generosity, 97,
Glory, 99,
Goals, 102,
God's Timing, 104,
Grace, 105,
Grief., 107,
Guidance, 109,
Guilt, 111,
Healing, 113,
Health, 114,
Heaven, 116,
Help, 118,
Hope, 120,
Hurt, 122,
Impossible, 123,
Insecurity, 126,
Intimacy, 129,
Jealousy, 131,
Joy, 133,
Judgment, 135,
Knowing God, 138,
Letting Go, 140,
Limitations, 141,
Loneliness, 143,
Loss, 145,
Love, 148,
Marriage, 150,
Mercy, 153,
Motives, 154,
Needs, 156,
Normal, 159,
Obedience, 162,
Overcoming, 164,
Pain, 166,
Patience, 168,
Peace, 170,
Perseverance, 173,
Power of God, 175,
Prayer, 177,
Presence of God, 179,
Pressure, 182,
Provision, 183,
Purpose, 184,
Redemption, 186,
Refreshment, 188,
Rejection, 191,
Renewal, 193,
Respite, 195,
Rest, 196,
Sacrifice, 197,
Safety, 200,
Shame, 203,
Special, 205,
Special Diets, 206,
Strength, 207,
Stress, 209,
Struggle, 211,
Stumble, 213,
Suffering, 214,
Support, 218,
Survival, 219,
Tears, 222,
Temptation, 224,
Thankfulness, 227,
Trials, 229,
Victory, 231,
Vulnerability, 234,
Waiting, 237,
Weary, 238,
Wisdom, 241,
Witnessing, 244,
Word of God, 247,
Words, 249,
Worry, 251,
CHAPTER 1
ABANDONMENT
When you feel like God has abandoned you ...
• Psalm 9:10 | Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.
• 2 Corinthians 4:9 | We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
• John 14:16 | I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
As a parent of a child with special needs, do you ever feel alone? In your difficult times, some of your closest friends may neglect or even desert you, but God never will. He is always pursuing you, trying to get your attention. Are you aware of him? If you are sincerely looking for God, you are sure to find him because he will never abandon anyone who wants a relationship with him. In fact, your difficulties can help you look more intently for God so that you can see him — right by your side.
ABILITIES
When you feel unqualified to meet your family's needs ...
• 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 | It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
When you come to the end of your own abilities ...
• Isaiah 40:29-31 | He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
• Zechariah 4:6 | It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.
When people focus on what your child may never do ...
• Matthew 19:26 | Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."
Ephesians 3:20 | Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Parents of children with special needs often talk about abilities. You are probably keenly aware of both your child's ability level and your own. However, the end of your abilities may be when you're able to see God's power and strength most clearly. When others focus on what your child cannot do, see it as an opportunity to focus on who God is and what he can do through you and your child. Sometimes inability is the vehicle for experiencing the blessing of God's powerful presence and provision.
* * *
ABUNDANCE
When you need more than Others can give ...
• Ephesians 3:18-19 | May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
When it feels as if everything is being taken away ...
• Romans 5:20 | God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. • • Psalm 36:7-9 | All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. • • John 10:10 | The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
When you need confidence that God loves you abundantly ...
• 1 John 4:9-10 | God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
The more stressful life is, the harder it is for us to be generous. Not so with God. When the human heart starts tightening under pressure, God's heart releases love and grace. There is more than enough in God's economy. His love is wide and deep and full, and it overflows upon you. It overflows upon your child, as well. So open your heart to him and let his love fill you up. He is ready to offer you a purposeful, abundant life!
* * *
ACCEPTANCE
When you're having trouble accepting your situation ...
• 1 Corinthians 7:17; Romans 8:18,...