...and it's not supposed to be easy.
In fact, we were fairly warned that following Christ would come with a cost.
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Matthew 16:24
Adoption follows Jesus' example of love and predictably, adoption is hard. But, trusting God, we decide
we can do hard because we're not functioning in our own strength, but the strength of the Lord.
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13
"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”
Matthew 19:26
"But [Jesus] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Adoption is riddled with potential difficulty (isn't life in general?), but every challenge is prime
opportunity for God to sweep in and use our circumstances to train us to be more like Christ.
The fruit of the Spirit grows through adversity, so may we never shy away from such privilege.
Here's the tip of the iceberg of the HARD = FRUITFUL/GOOD THINGS we realize we can
anticipate and have already experienced through the blessing of adoption with gratitude:
WAITING = PATIENCE/SUBMISSION TO GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY & RELINQUISHING CONTROL
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord and submit to His perfect timing and plans. When we let go of control, God takes control.
He is always in control anyway, so we realize it's best to recognize this out the gate and allow Him to be God. I remind myself often,
He is very good at being God...and patience takes root.
"But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
"Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?"
Isaiah 43:13
PERSECUTION = FAITHFULNESS/CONFIDENCE IN GOD & SUBMISSION TO HIS PERFECT PLANS
Not everyone will understand adoption, but that's to be expected. Most things that clearly identify the Spirit of God stir discomfort,
even opposition, from others who may not clearly discern what God is doing.
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2 Timothy 3:12
As it is, not everyone can relate to our love for our big family or our choices to live things out differently from our cultural norms, but God gives us confidence in Him and His plans, so we stand firm on what He has chosen for us and follow Him into more. In all areas of our lives, we should be most concerned about what God thinks of us and fight the temptation to fear man...and faithfulness multiplies.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11
DIFFICULTY, EVEN TRAGEDY = JOY IN TRIALS/ INCREASED FAITH IN A TRUSTWORTHY GOD
The email came through and it hit us like a ton of bricks. Malaria. Typhoid. Scabies. Etc...And those are just the physical ailments. Undoubtedly, the spiritual and emotional battles will come. But God is in control, I remind myself (again), and trust returns.
Even through tragedy, sometimes especially through tragedy, God draws us to Himself and we find His strength, not ours.
We trust that He is good no matter what and that He uses all things for our good and for His glory.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
We pray for our little ones so far away in Congo and entrust them to God's loving care. And I think, How can we know what we have signed up for? We can't. But can we know this in any aspect of our lives, even in the things that seem to be "certain"? Nothing is certain except that God knows what He is doing and whatever comes to pass is of Him and His will. In that we trust and follow Him into the unknown, expectant that He will work all things, especially the hard things, for ultimate good...and joy takes flight!
UNKNOWNS/FEAR = PEACE/BELIEF & TRUST THAT GOD KNOWS ALL & HE IS LOVING, WISE, & GOOD
Being in the "paper pregnancy" stage of adoption, I'm well aware that my understanding of just how hard adoption is remains quite naive as of yet. As I reflect on the last 12 years of parenting my firstborn and five others since, it's glaring just how much I didn't know when I was pregnant with my first. And, this is a new first, but God will use it all as He teaches me new, of this I am certain.
I'm in...and peace flows like a river.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
I don't know much, but this much I know: We've stepped out with a simple answer, yes, and made a choice to trust God's plans for our future (come what may). I jest, it's just life on earth. And, after all, if the goal is God's glory (not our prosperity), then He is glorified in our weaknesses even more than in our strengths. He is glorified more when we hold fast to Him when everything else fails. He is glorified when we retain joy, even amidst trials. He is with us in the storms and especially when life gets hard. So, we'll cling to Christ through whatever trials we encounter, deciding by faith that God's good/hard is alright with us because we trust Him.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-4
