How should parents handle learning disabilities in their children?

Quick answer

Parents should handle learning disabilities in their children by relying on God for strength and wisdom, leaning on a Christ-centered community for support, valuing their child’s true identity, and above all, loving their child with Christ’s love.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible doesn’t give specific instruction on parenting children with disabilities, but it offers wisdom and encouragement. Parenting a child with learning disabilities can be difficult and discouraging. We’re invited to bring our emotional, physical, and spiritual burdens to Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30), and we can be honest about how we feel. We can cast our anxieties on Jesus and even make requests to God (Philippians 4:6-7); as we do so, we can also remember to trust in Him and lean on His wisdom instead of our own (Proverbs 3:6). Though parenting brings its trials, it also brings immense joys. We’re not asked to do everything alone—we need the support of the body of Christ (Romans 12:13). As hard as it is to see sometimes, God can make good things come out of our hardest life circumstances (Romans 8:28). Above all, we must love our child with Christ-centered love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). They need to know about Jesus, and if they believe in Him, understand that their identity is founded in Him alone (Galatians 3:26).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

When a child is diagnosed with a learning disability, it may feel devastating. Yet, we can come to God with our feelings. Hannah is a good example of someone who felt sorrow over her life circumstances and expressed her emotions to God. We, like Hannah, can express our feelings to God over any situation and ask for His intervention (1 Samuel 1; 2), and this extends to the decisions we make on behalf of our child with learning disabilities.

As we navigate parenting,we must trust God and lean on Him for our ultimate source of wisdom rather than ourselves: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). This may look like leaning on our local body of believers for support and asking God to open doors for our children rather than pressuring ourselves to have all the answers.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

Jesus invites us to share our burdens with Him (Matthew 11:28-30), including all our emotional burdens as we empathize, comfort, support, and work with our child through their learning disabilities. We must remember to lean on Christ as we try to be a support system for our child, since He is our ultimate support system.

We can be encouraged that God works all things together for the good for those of us who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). As a believer, we may be enduring trials right now, but we can trust that God can use it for good.

We can share the struggles and joys of parenting with the body of Christ (Romans 12:13), leaning on this close-knit community for comfort and support during all seasons of our child’s journey.

First Corinthians 13:4-7 highlights what Christ-centered love looks like, and extending this kind of love is what should matter more to us than anything else when it comes to parenting.

Parents need to communicate with their children that disabilities do not define worth or identity. Instead, we must teach our children what it means to follow God and put their identity in Him (Galatians 3:26).

With all the worries that can accompany parenting a child with a learning disability, keeping Philippians 4:6 in mind helps: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Prayer is a significant spiritual help for us in all situations, including parenting.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Children with learning disabilities can present unique challenges that can, at times, be overwhelming, frustrating, or painful for parents. We cannot do everything; our main source of strength and wisdom comes from God, not within ourselves. Practically speaking, we can connect with other parents of disabled children and build a support system with them. We can also pursue educational resources for special needs at the child’s school and rely on our church family to help encourage, support, and pray alongside us and our child. We have natural limitations, and that’s okay. Above all, we must show our child unconditional love that reflects the agape love of Jesus Christ: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

UNDERSTAND

Parenting a child with learning disabilities can be difficult and discouraging, but we can bring our feelings and worries to God.

Parents with a learning-disabled child should seek church and community support.

Above all, parents are called to show agape love to their disabled child that reflects Christ’s love.

REFLECT

If you are a parent of a child with learning disabilities, how have you sought the Lord’s help in processing the emotions, difficulties, and worries that come with it?

How are you engaging in community to help you and your child thrive and honor the Lord?

What highs and lows of parenting your child with learning disabilities have you experienced?

ENGAGE

How can we as believers better support those who are parenting children with learning disabilities?

In what ways does love impact the way we parent our children even in difficult times and situations?

How can we recognize the difficulties that come with learning disabilities while showing value to a child who has one?