J esus never spoke the word “autism,” yet everything he said and everything he did reveals exactly how he sees children and adults with disabilities. Over and over, he moved toward the very people the world moved away from—the ones labeled “different,” “broken,” “too much,” or “not enough.” Jesus welcomed children when others tried to push them aside and said, “Let the little children come to me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). He never asked them to explain themselves, to behave a certain way, or to fit into anyone’s idea of “normal.” He healed without shaming, loved without conditions, and touched those others were afraid to touch.
Related: Bible study session on the woman who bled for 12 years
When the disciples asked why someone was born with a disability, Jesus made it clear that it was not a punishment, not a failure, not a mistake. It was so that the works of God might be revealed in them. Their lives were never accidents. Never burdens. Never afterthoughts.
As a mother of a child with autism, I have learned this truth in the most personal way. Our life may look different from what I once imagined, but it is not less. It is full—full of meaning, full of purpose, full of God’s fingerprints. Grace’s way of seeing the world, her honesty, her joy, her purity of heart—these are not deficits. They are gifts. They are reflections of the God who made her intentionally, lovingly, and wonderfully.
In Jesus’s eyes, those who struggle to speak, to regulate, or to connect in “typical” ways are not lesser. They are seen. They are known. They are cherished completely. He understands every sound, every movement, every quiet ache, and every unspoken thought. He knows the hearts of those who cannot always express themselves, and he hears prayers that never make it into words.
And for the parents—the ones who love past exhaustion, who worry in the quiet hours, who carry both fierce devotion and deep weariness—Jesus stands close. He weeps with us. He carries what feels impossible. And he whispers to our hearts: “Your child is mine. I formed them with intention. I delight in them exactly as they are.”
Related: Getting to know autistic Jesus
Life with autism is not a life missing something. It is a life where God reveals himself in ways we might never have seen otherwise. It is different, but not less; it is holy, beautiful, and overflowing with the presence of Christ.
Tips for communicating with people on the autism spectrum
To ensure that everybody belongs and everybody serves, read these guidelines for communicating well with people on the autism spectrum. Everyone will benefit when these connections are made, friendships are formed, and the body of Christ is strengthened in this way.
Pastor Janet Paduano Cardillo
Pastor Janet Paduano Cardillo is a commissioned pastor at The Colonial Church of Bayside (Reformed Church in America), located in Queens, New York. Janet holds a BA in Psychology. She is also a New York State Certified Teaching Assistant and a Behavior Technician. Janet is currently in the dual Master of Divinity and Theology Program at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in the hope of becoming ordained as an RCA minister of Word and sacrament.
Janet and her daughter, Grace, who presents special needs, live in Mineola, New York, a suburb of New York City. They are sustained by the goodness of the Lord, and Janet faithfully serves God whenever she is called.
