We in the wealthy west prize and even idolize our own abilities and productivity. When we meet new people for the first time we ask, “What do you do?” What we’re asking is, what’s your job? What are you capable of? How do you contribute to society? If we’re really honest we’re looking for how to assign that person value. If they do something important we see them as more valuable, more worthy of respect. We all fall into a trap of equating what we can do—our abilities, our productivity—with our identity and worth. The more we do, the better we feel about ourselves.

But when this kind of thinking is not corrected and it’s allowed to take its natural course, the outcome can be deadly. It’s this thinking, this idolatry of ability, that causes us to abort children with Down Syndrome, or to rationalize assisted suicide. The idol of ability is deadly.

On this episode we hear from author and speaker Vaneetha Risner. She recently published her memoir Walking Through Fire, in which she shares her story of suffering and how God has met her in it. Her story is powerful, God-honoring, and sharpening for the rest of us to hear, especially in light of our cultural idol of ability. Vaneetha contracted polio as a child in India and was diagnosed with post polio syndrome as an adult. She also bore a son, whom doctors encouraged her to abort, as they knew he would be born with a debilitating heart condition. Her son passed away as a baby, but Vaneetha speaks powerfully about the importance of his life. She shares vulnerably too about marriage, her first husband’s affair, divorce, parenting, and remarriage. Vaneetha’s life and faith are a testament to our good God and sovereign God. Listen in and be encouraged to think rightly about our bodies and our abilities, God’s love for us, and how the Christian life is one of surrender.

Visit Vaneetha’s website

Get Vaneetha’s book Walking Through Fire