A Life without Limits: The Faith and Life of Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic | Photo image courtesy Reserve Entertainment
Born with a rare condition that resulted in the absence of his arms and legs, Australian motivational speaker Nick Vujicic has spent much of his life inspiring millions around the world to find hope and purpose in the face of adversity.

But long before he discovered his calling, Vujicic struggled to find his identity due to the extreme physical hardships he faced. In fact, so distraught by bullying at school, he attempted suicide by drowning himself in a bathtub at the age of 10. Fortunately, he was saved and soon discovered that life was indeed worth living.

Vujicic’s extraordinary journey is now the subject of a new feature documentary, No Limbs, No Limits: The Nick V Story opening in theaters nationwide this Friday. It is a true story of what becomes possible when love and a strong faith in God refuses to accept the verdict.

I recently sat down with Vujicic to discuss why he is willing to open up his life for the world to see, the moment his mindset shifted from hopelessness to purpose, and the advice he would give someone who is struggling with self-worth or feeling “different”.

For so many people, the decision to open up your life for people to see is very difficult regardless of the circumstances. But you have chosen to do just that. Why the willingness to open up your life for the world to see?

It's been an incredible pleasure to travel around the world and share my story, as I can, by the grace of God, but it's just been an incredible journey where it's all about being real with the story. The ups and downs, the good, the bad, the ugly, but through it all, seeing the faithfulness of God. And it's just been a rich life. I'm only in my mid-40s, and we know that, hopefully we have many more years here with Nick V Ministries. As I'm getting older and now a father of four, with an incredible marriage, we just want everyone to find hope, because I feel like this is the one thing that continues to grow, a hunger for real hope with addictions, depressions, and going through the roof. We just want everyone to know that the work that we have and have had is raw. I've had ups and downs. We do talk about depression and all sorts of things, and we just want everyone to never give up through this tool, the big screen. We're seeing the big screen as our mission field.

Why make and release this film now? You are well into your ministry and dare I say pretty well known around the world.

I just want everyone to know that there's a lot in this film, not just my childhood home videos that my mom took, but it's not just about me, it's not just also about my family.

It's for everyone. In the documentary, we got to actually interview the janitor who came up to me when I was 17 years of age, and he saw me speak as the (class) vice president at my school. He pulled me aside and said, “Hey, are you a Christian?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “You know, young man, God's going to take you all around the world, and you're going to speak.” And I said, “Speak about what?” He said, “Your story.” And I said, “Hmm.” And he was the person to actually organize my first speech at age 17.

And so, it's understanding that God can use us all. We just need to give our yes to Him, and that our history is His story. And as long as you're not done breathing, you're still alive, your story ain't done yet. And to know that when you don't get a miracle, you can still be one. And whether he used a limbless man, a janitor, or my parents, if God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then God can use any willing heart. And the whole story is this, that when you don't get a miracle, you can still be one. Please understand that. There is a greater purpose in our life, and I think that's what people are looking for. It's in our hunger and seeking God and going through the process of a kid who once attempted suicide at age 10, blaming God for everything. And that whole journey of, how did I become thankful? How did I find that resilience? And how did I find that faith?

I’m glad you brought that up because I can imagine that you had a very difficult childhood both physically and emotionally. What was the hardest moment in your childhood, and how did it shape who you are today?

What we all understand is with the resistance and the difficulties, that's where resilience is built in. My parents didn't allow me to play the victim card. They taught me how to still be thankful for what I had. Believe me, going through bullying was difficult, and trying to find my identity, self-worth, and value as a child of God was really hard. When the world says you're not good enough, get a second opinion. And go back to the Word of God. Go to Psalm 139, where it says you're fearfully and wonderfully made. And it's understanding that it is a war, it is a war between lies and truth.

When I was a child, I didn't really have the faith to believe in the truth of my worth, my purpose, and my value in God's eyes. I was isolated, depressed, and really debilitated by fear. And I think we all go through that, but as you continue to take small steps, make small goals, mid-sized goals, long-term goals, and just take one day at a time, you will be a better person for it.

You mentioned earlier in our conversation that you were very depressed, perhaps even suicidal. Was there a specific moment when your mindset shifted from hopelessness to purpose?

I think the first turning point for me was cultivating the attitude of gratitude. At age 13, I hurt my little foot. And it's the little foot that allows me to walk and type, to become mobile, and swim, and really become the independent person that I am today because of this little thing. And when I hurt it so bad, I was in bed for three weeks, and I really either had a choice to either be angry for what I don't have, or be thankful for what I do have. And so my parents were always there to encourage me, but I had to make that decision to stop being so angry at the things I didn't understand. I actually had to move forward with what I could change. It was really my attitude and my heart. At age 15, I read John 9, about a man who was born blind. No one knew why he was born that way, and Jesus said it was done so that the works of God would be revealed through Him. Jesus spits in the dirt, puts mud on the guy's face, and he sees. And what changed me, was not a miracle, but really the faith of the blind man, where we want to know what the plan is. In Jeremiah 29:11, God's got a plan, so we ask, what's the plan?

And we think if we get the plan, then everything's going to be okay. Like, God, tell me what the plan is, and then I'll tell you if I trust you. Well, this blind man allowed Jesus to do his plan without any questions. And at that moment, if He gives me the plan, I don't need faith. The whole purpose on this side of heaven is to have faith, to believe despite what you see.

And so that's when things changed for me, when I said, God, if you have a plan for a blind man, you've got a plan for me. I have a pair of shoes in my closet in case God gives me arms and legs, but I'm not waiting for them. And I realize now that He can give me arms and legs, but He may not give me arms and legs, but I can still pray for arms and legs. I'm not waiting for limbs, and I have faith to know that He does have the plan, that He's going to direct my path as I acknowledge Him in all of my ways.

What advice would you give someone struggling with self-worth or feeling “different”?

I think we're all different. I think we need to walk away from social media a little bit, because I think we're all a little hijacked emotionally, and crippled with this fear of comparison, fear of rejection, fear of being alone, and fear of not being good enough. As in, the world looks perfect, and people online look perfect and happy. There's something wrong with me. No, there's nothing wrong with you. What we have got to understand is that a daily relationship with God is really, really important. To know that your value has nothing to do with how you look, what you have, what you don't have, what education you have, what job, or whatever. God has a plan for you. He loves you. And that comes by focusing on prayer, reading the Word of God, and even the promises of God over your life every day.

After people have had a chance to see, No Limbs, No Limits, what would you like audiences to take away from that experience? What is your greatest hope for the film?

We're so excited about it coming out in 1,500 theaters across the United States and then worldwide. First and foremost, we want everyone, whether they've gone to church or never would want to go into a church building, we want everyone to find hope. We want everyone that doesn’t have a personal walk with God, to at least be inspired, and actually consider right there and then at the end of this film, ‘You know what? God, if you've got a plan for a man without arms and legs to be your hands and feet, you healed Nick's heart, you healed him of his fear, and you helped him when he felt like giving up and tried to give up, maybe you also have a plan for me. And if God can use Nick to help someone else, then maybe God can use me too.” And so, it's all about understanding the truth of you're not a mistake. I want people to walk away with hope and faith.

For More Information on Nick V Ministries:

WATCH A TRAILER FOR NO LIMBS, NO LIMITS: THE NICK V STORY: