GOD HAD A PLAN FOR ME

My mother had three sonograms before I was born and none of them indicated any problems. But I was born without arms and legs. That obviously made life extremely challenging. I had tremendous parents but I was bullied throughout the early years of school. I became depressed and even had suicidal thoughts. My life changed when I was 15. I read how Jesus said the blind man was born that way so the works of God would be revealed through him. If God had a plan for that man, I certainly believed He had one for me. I totally surrendered my life to Christ. I realized God wasn’t the one that gave me this pain. What was intended for bad, God could turn into good. But I wondered how. I found out when I gave at a speech at a high school. After the talk, a couple hundred students lined up to speak with me. A girl began sobbing uncontrollably as she approached, saying, “No one has ever told me that they loved me. No one has ever said to me I’m beautiful the way that I am.” At that moment, I knew God wanted me to share my story with as many people as possible. That was His plan. So I now speak to thousands each year through my Life Without Limbs ministry. Our mission is to break down barriers and build bridges that bring people to the love and hope found in Jesus Christ alone. I am a man of faith and without that, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I am not the person who says, “Pray for a miracle and it will come if you pray hard enough.” God doesn’t answer our prayers according to what we want. He answers prayers according to His perfect wisdom. Some are greatly disappointed in their faith walk because they’ve been promised miracles that never came to fruition. People ask if I wish I had arms and legs. At times, I do. I even have a pair of shoes in my closet in case He decides to give me limbs. But God has blessed me with a beautiful wife and children. I have seen God answer my prayer for hope, purpose, and significance in such a unique way that it would not be same if I had arms and legs. I am thrilled to be living out His calling for my life.