
Chronic Joy® Access • Accessibility. Opening doors. Removing barriers.
Chronic Joy Access
Opening Doors. Removing Barriers.
Accessibility is an invitation to broaden our perspectives, choosing the simple kindness of including one another, opening doors, and removing barriers.

Think of the kindness you wish others would show you; do the same for them. (Luke 6:31)
ACCESSIBILITY • KINDNESS IN ACTION
We’ve all experienced what it’s like to be on the outside looking in, wanting to be seen, wanting to be included, wanting to have a close friend, wanting to be part of a dynamic and caring community. The more we are left out, the easier it becomes to insulate ourselves from the pain of rejection and protect our hearts with the armor of separation.
What if, instead, that pain opens a door for us to notice others who are on the fringe, to extend the kindness of a smile, a kind word, or a compassionate welcome? When we include others, we break down barriers and open doors that we wished would have been opened for us.
Each time we choose kindness, our defenses soften a bit.
While no one can truly understand the unique challenges we’ve experienced, those experiences equip us for the mission and ministry God has lovingly planned for each of us.
The ground beneath our own two feet is our mission field and extending kindness is the foundation of true accessibility.
ACCESSIBILITY REDEFINED
One definition of accessibility is the quality of being suitable or adapted for use by people with disabilities. Yet accessibility means so much more than being wheelchair-friendly.
Being accessible is all about removing barriers and taking steps to be more inclusive for a wide range of needs. It means that we extend a warm and compassionate welcome to each person as if they are an honored guest.
A.W. Tozer wrote, “The love of Jesus is so inclusive that it knows no boundaries.”
As a global resource ministry dedicated to compassionately serving all those affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and disability, our hearts long to not only broaden our collective understanding of accessibility, but to also take steps to include all.
Disabilities include:
- Vision impairments
- Mobility restrictions
- Auditory impairments
- Neurological conditions
- Cognitive and learning disabilities
- Medical conditions
- Mental health conditions
- Pain conditions
While the wide range of accessibility needs is daunting, a great place to start is by asking questions. When we extend kindness through asking questions and really listening to the responses, we open doors and begin to break down barriers.
This compassion opens the door to authentic community — and deep down, isn’t that what we all long for?

HOW TO OPEN DOORS OF ACCESSIBILITY
At its core, kindness is selfless and sacrificial. It is leaning into Jesus and listening for His still, small Voice — and it is courageously stepping out in faith as and how He leads, learning to care for and love one another deeply from the heart.
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and it is an essential ingredient of a vibrant and growing faith.
Accessibility is kindness in action – the love of God touching hearts and lives through:
- Care
- Compassion
- Courtesy
- Friendliness
- Gentleness
- Goodness
- Grace
- Helpfulness
- Hospitality
- Patience
- Tenderness
- Thoughtfulness
- Understanding
- Unselfishness
- Warmth
ACCESS FOR ALL
Accessibility means choosing to extend and receive kindness. Even the smallest, servant-hearted kindness can be used by God to effect greater change than we may ever know this side of Heaven.
1. Speak a word of hope or encouragement. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
2. Send a #PenToPaper note to a friend or loved one. (Galatians 6:11)
- #PenToPaper Guide
- #PenToPaper Note Starters
- Print Your Own Sharing Life, Discovering Hope Stationery
3. Comfort someone who is sick or injured. (Luke 10:30-35)
4. Ask questions about how we might serve one another in love. (Proverbs 2:2)
5. Hold the door for the person behind you. (Romans 12:10)
6. Ask for help when you need it and be willing to accept it. (Philippians 4:6)
7. Listen. Listening is the foundation of accessibility. All of us have a story to tell — and all of us have unspoken needs. (Proverbs 20:5)
8. Pray for someone, then call, email, or text them to let them know. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- Prayer Pond – Request prayer and pray for others.
- Pray Continually
- #ConnectByText

STEPPING IN
Hover over an image for a brief description.
INTENTIONAL KINDNESS

Show up, lean in, and be intentionally kind. Kindness is love in action. It shapes the relationships between us and builds a strong foundation of deeply caring and faith-enriched communities. LEARN MORE.
PRINTABLES

Downloadable Hope! Resources, tips, and tools to encourage and inspire everyone affected by chronic illness. More than 70 beautifully designed, FREE printables (with more coming!) are available at a click. Step in, check back, download a little hope today. LEARN MORE.
RADICAL COMMUNITY

LOVE ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY FROM THE HEART Radical community is rooted in love, nourished in prayer, and strengthened in courageous vulnerability as we listen, engage, forgive, learn, grow, serve, and extend compassion to all. LEARN MORE.
AUDIO

Audio is an invitation to listen, to be engaged and enriched through one-on-one storytelling, anytime and in any place, through the caring, compassionate, and friendly voices of Chronic Joy’s guest writers and of our own Voices of Chronic Joy® volunteers. LEARN MORE.
#PENTOPAPER
#PenToPaper is a heartfelt ministry of shared time offering a gift of hope and encouragement with a reminder to someone that they are thought of, cared about, and prayed for. LEARN MORE.
PASS IT ON

Making the journey easier for one another. You’re invited to Pass It On! Do you know a great resource (book, blog, or website)? Do you know someone you could introduce to Chronic Joy? LEARN MORE.
FREE IMAGES

Need eye-catching, FREE images? Discover thousands of inspiring, faith-based photos. Now available for immediate, high-res download for your ministry, organization, social media, or to simply encourage friends and loved ones with a beautiful photo in a text or email. LEARN MORE.
PRAYER MINISTRY

Your Safe Harbor for Prayer. Share prayer requests, updates, and shouts of praise. It’s safe, secure, and always without judgement. LEARN MORE.
#CONNECTBYTEXT
Looking for a way to connect with, encourage, inspire, and love on others? Text them! Encourage someone, spread a little hope, and let another know they are cared about, prayed for, and loved. Never underestimate the power of a simple text. LEARN MORE.
FRIEND-RAISING

Cultivate. Strengthen. Build. It’s all about relationships. Friend-Raising starts with story – with our why – why we give, serve, pray, and invest our time, talents, and resources in the mission and ministry of Chronic Joy®. Here’s the best part — you only need a few good friends to start! LEARN MORE.
BOOKS WE LOVE!
We’ve handpicked outstanding books JUST FOR YOU! When you shop through our Books We Love page, your purchase helps support the mission and ministry of Chronic Joy.
LEARN MORE.
#STEPREPPRAY

#StepRepPray is an invitation to meet with God in movement, always at the pace of grace. With each step or every rep, seek God’s guidance, worship and praise Him, thank Him for the gift of movement, and lift your heart in prayer for others. LEARN MORE.

BLOG POSTS
With Love from Chronic Joy
Chronic Joy is an everyday Valentine and love letter to you. Our heart's have always been to share God’s love, kindness, and our tools and resources.
Promise of Abundant Peace
Peace, it seems, arrives on the heels of gratitude. When we thank God for who He is, what He’s done, and all He’s given us, the floodgates of peace swing wide as God's peace rushes over us, filling each crack and crevice, mending every broken piece, and smoothing over the missing shards.
Let’s Celebrate
Together, we are learning to live a life of celebration amid this unexpected journey through chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and disability.
