Isaiah 50 is a prophecy about Jesus. If you read the whole chapter that will be pretty obvious. When I read it recently, verses 7-9 particularly stood out because of their similarity to some other verses (especially when you read it in the NIV).
Isaiah 50:7-9:
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.
Sound familiar? Read Romans 8:31-34:
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died —more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Here’s the thing that almost took my breath away. Isaiah 50 is talking about Jesus. He deserves help from the Sovereign LORD. He deserves the nearness and vindication of God. He deserves no condemnation. I deserve just the opposite: disgrace, rejection, condemnation, accusation.
But Romans 8 is talking about me. And God promises me exactly the same things he promises His beloved, perfectly righteous Son…as long as I am in Christ. Is that amazing grace or what?
So what does that have to do with disability? Well…nothing directly. It applies to every sinner who puts their faith in Jesus. And all by itself, that should be more than enough. But keep reading in Romans 8 and you see the link to disability, among many other things. These verses continue the flow of verses 31-34 (comments in italics are mine):
What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword (or disability)? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation (including disability), will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If we are in Christ, then God is for us. And if God is for us then nothing – in particular, not disability – can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amazing!
The Works of God 
What an amazing God we have. I’m so thankful for Roman 8 and other reminders that He is with us. And when the testimony is repeated, joyfully, by folks who are living with disability and its constant and consuming life road, I can see even clearer the fruit of a God who is near to His people. Thanks, Bob.
Really appreciate this, Bob and John! And thank you for putting your brotherhood in Christ on display — such an essential gift from the Lord (particularly between fathers facing the daily challenges of disability together). God be praised!