Seeing Through God's Eyes

I want to tell you about a student I had during my first year of teaching. He had some pretty severe challenging behaviors, and to be honest, a lot of the staff were afraid of him. They often described him as "extremely aggressive," "non-compliant," or even "scary." 😬

But here's the twist—my lead assistant, the one who worked with him most, described him in a totally different way. She’d describe him with words like, "kind," "generous," "smart," and just a little bit stubborn 😉.

So, what’s the difference between these two descriptions? One focused on his limitations, while the other saw his value and potential. And that, my friend, is a big deal.

Here’s the truth: God sees beyond the labels we tend to put on people.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is from 2 Corinthians 5:16, which says:

"So from now on we regard no one from an earthly point of view."

Paul is challenging us to stop seeing people through worldly lenses—like their abilities, behaviors, or communication skills—and to start seeing them through God's eyes. 👀

🌍 Earthly Perspective vs. God’s Perspective 👀

When we look at things from an earthly point of view, we often focus on the limitations:

❌ We see a child’s diagnosis before we see the child.
❌ We focus on behaviors and miss the person behind them.
❌ We assume a student can’t engage in their faith, so we don’t even give them the chance.

But here’s where God flips the script: He focuses on value and purpose:

✨ God sees His image in every person (Genesis 1:27).
✨ Jesus ministered to those the world overlooked (Luke 14:13-14).
✨ The Body of Christ needs all members (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
✨ Every person has a role to play in God’s kingdom.

💡 How This Changes Disability Ministry

So how does all of this impact your ministry? It means we need to:

✅ Presume Competence – Believe that every student can learn, grow, and engage in faith.
✅ Shift from Pity to Empowerment – Disability isn’t a tragedy; it’s part of God’s diverse design.
✅ Value Each Person’s Gifts – Every child has something unique to contribute to the church community.
✅ Create True Belonging – Let’s go beyond just making accommodations and focus on building genuine relationships and discipleship.

Practical Ways to Apply 2 Corinthians 5:16 in Your Ministry

Want to see real change in your ministry? Here are some simple but powerful ways to apply this mindset:

💬 Speak life over every child and volunteer – Affirm their value in God’s kingdom.
🙌 Offer meaningful opportunities – Don’t assume a child can’t pray, serve, or engage in worship. Find ways to include them!
🎓 Train your volunteers – Encourage them to presume competence and see every person as a disciple in the making.
🙏 Pray for God’s perspective – Ask God to help you see each child through His eyes, beyond earthly limitations.

Your Challenge This Week 🔥

This week, I challenge you to be intentional about seeing one student in a new way—through God’s eyes. Shift your perspective, and you’ll start to see transformation in your ministry. 🌟

You are doing incredible, Kingdom-impacting work, and I just want to encourage you to keep going. You’re making a difference in the lives of children who matter deeply to God. 💙