Spiritual Gifts and Disability—Gifts FAQ

The previous several posts and next few blog posts capture some questions from a recent Your Unique Design gifts class. One participant asked, with regard to her/his gifts:

How can a disabled person exercise their gifts?

If the Lord has given a gift to this person, He intends for it to be used. Many gifts do not actually involve physical or even mental or emotional strength (Administration, Mercy, Intercession, Faith, etc.). The presence of the person with the gift brings that gift to the situation. If it is the case that this person is being prevented from using a gift (Teaching, Shepherding, Helps, Artistic Expression, etc.) because the organization in question does not provide accommodations for that particular disability, it’s likely time to have that conversation with the organization’s leadership. At a minimum, every agency should be ADA-compliant or provide reasonable exceptions so someone can be involved in a meaningful way.

And, as with all gifts, God promises that His Holy Spirit will provide the power and the ability and the guidance. Our commitment is to seek Him and listen as well as to be sure that our use of any gift is done in love (1 Corinthians 13).

Set aside some time to read more about gifts and about calling, passion, and purpose in other Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog posts. There’s a lot here!

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.

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