ADHD of the Christian Kind - Bible Study: Coming to Terms with ADD/ADHD or Why Me, Lord?

Coming to Terms with Special Needs ADHD ADD, Bipolar, OCD, Depression and more

After months of struggling with the behavior of my children, I eventually stumbled upon the label "ADHD". Through much reading and research, and finally diagnosis by a professional, my second son was determined to be ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and eventually borderline Bipolar Disorder. Over the years, the younger children have been tested as well resulting in diagnoses of ADHD, Asperger's, Bipolar Disorder, Depression and more. The storms and difficulties that seemed to reign supreme in my home began to take their toll on me as a Christian.

Was I a failure as a mom? Even worse, was I even a faithful Christian? Why was I being punished by having terrible children? Why was the Lord making me go through this? I began to cry out to the Lord for answers and wisdom from above for dealing with my children.

The result has been an online support group, Christian ADHD List, that has truly been my lifeline, and a renewed faith in the working of God in my life and His love for me.

My prayer for you is that you can find the Lord's purpose in this present difficulty in which you find yourself.

May I suggest that you pray and ask the Lord for your spiritual eyes to be opened as you study His Word. Expect the Lord to work in your heart as you read and study. The Word of God is living and active... (Hebrews 4:12)

Before you start:

A prayerful attitude: ask the Lord for insight and understanding of His Word
Gather the following tools:
1. Bible in one or two translations
2. Dictionary (Webster's 1828 or Bible Dictionary recommended)
3. Pen and notebook to record your thoughts
4. Copy of this Bible study (permission is granted to print out for personal use)
If you do the Bible study online, after clicking on a Bible verse or definition hyper link, just click on "Back" to return to your place in the study.

Bible Study

1. Read 1 Peter 1:3-7, 1 Peter 4:12, James 1:2-4,12, Romans 5:3-5 and Hebrews 2:10 and Hebrews 5:8. I listed so many scriptures because I wanted you to see a trend or pattern in the Word regarding difficulties. What results from the endurance of great difficulty (all kinds of trials)?

2. Read 1 Peter 1:13-16. What high calling are we all given?

3. Read 1 Peter 2:9. Who are you in Christ?

4. Read Hebrews 5:8 again. How did Jesus learn obedience?

5. How then will you learn obedience to God?

6. Read Hebrews 6:10-12 and Galatians 6:9. As you face trial after trial, and challenge after challenge, what do the scriptures entreat you to do?

7. Read Hebrews 12:3-11. How should you view hardship in your life?

8. What attitude should you have toward the trials in your life?

9. Make a list of the trials you are currently going through, or perceived areas of failure in your life, including those that result from having special needs children in your family.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

10. Now note something good that could come from each trial (or something you have already learned from it), especially any character traits that are needed to effectively and successfully parent your special needs children.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

We see consistently that the Christian suffers and endures difficulty for a very good reason: to be transformed into the image of Christ, to be perfected and for character to be forged within him.

At this point, you have a choice to make: do you shrink back from the difficulties in your life and look for an easy way out, or do you courageously face them, allowing the Lord to change you in any way He chooses? It is up to you!

For further encouragement, see "The Courage to Raise a Special Child".

Return to Bible Studies Menu

Scripture References

1 Peter 1:3-7 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (NIV)

1 Peter 4:12 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (NIV)

James 1:2-4,12 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (NIV)

Romans 5:3-5 - ...We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (NIV)

Hebrews 2:10 - "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." (NIV)

Hebrews 5:8 - "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him..." (NIV)

1 Peter 1:13-16 - "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be Holy, because I am holy.'" (NIV)

1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (NIV)

Hebrews 6:10-12 - "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (NIV)

Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."(NIV)

Hebrews 12:3-11 - "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle again sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.'

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons." (NIV)