A helpful word from Charles Spurgeon about using the gifts we have for God’s glory and for the sake of other people, like the four men who brought the paralytic to Jesus:
After all, the method which the four friends followed was one most suitable to their abilities. They were, I suppose, four strong fellows, to whom the load was no great weight, and the work of digging was comparatively easy. The method suited their capacity exactly.
And what did they do when they had let the sick man down? Look at the scene and admire? I do not read that they said a single word, yet what they did was enough: abilities for lifting and carrying did the needful work.
Some of you say, “Ah, we cannot be of any use; we wish we could preach.” These men could not preach: they did not need to preach. They lowered the paralytic, and their work was done. They could not preach, but they could hold a rope. . .
O hearts that love sinners lay their lost estate before Jesus; bring their cases as they are before the Savior; if your tongues stammer, your hearts will prevail; if you cannot speak even to Christ himself, as you would desire, because you have not the gift of prayer, yet if your strong desires spring from the spirit of prayer you cannot fail. God help us to make use of such means as are within our power, and not to sit down idly to regret the powers we do not possess.
Charles Spurgeon, Carried by Four, delivered March 19, 1871.
It is also a good reminder – our family and friends with disabilities may not be able to do many things, but God has given them something to do for his glory. Let us work hard to prepare everyone to use the gifts they have, and not simply grieve what we think is lacking.
The Works of God 
John, I have just subscribed to your blog after a couple of months ago becoming aware of it and your family through the Desiring God interview you did with John Piper. I and others who are part of a chronic illness social online group have been so blessed and encouraged through hearing your story. Or, should we say the grand and merciful story of God in your life.
This particular blog today touched my heart with such encouragement and really an answer to the prayer I’ve been bringing to the Lord of late. I am homebound most of the time due to a severe environmental illness in which many substances normally tolerated by others making me disabling ill. Leaving my air purified home will bring on severe pain, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction to the point severely limiting my ability to function. This has made attending church or other fellowship with the body of Christ very difficult. I can feel so useless to the kingdom of God at times in this lonely place. So, I can easily relate to being one “with disabilities (who) may not be able to do many things”. It is good to be encouraged that “God has given them something to do for his glory”. Just reading this post has been so helpful to remind me to turn my eyes upon the the gifts I have, and not “simply grieve what we think is lacking”. I pray for the body of Christ to grow to a deeper understanding of this more and more as I believe those who are is such disabling situations need this encouragement. I plan to share this with my chronically ill friends.
May God bless you as you used the gifts He has given you today:)