I've said it before (endearingly retitled "Adoption Is Hard (Part 1)"...Oh, how little we knew back then).
I'll say it again (even more new lessons under belt on the way, I'd expect). And God will still be good in it all.
But, adoption is full of HARD. It just is.
I'll say it again (even more new lessons under belt on the way, I'd expect). And God will still be good in it all.
But, adoption is full of HARD. It just is.
From beginning to middle to more middle and I can only assume to the very end...adoption is hard. And I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be because when we choose to follow Christ and pick up a cross, lay our lives down and sacrifice ourselves for the wounds of another, the Bible says that it will come with a cost. It's pleasing to God to be ok with this, so we are.
"And [Jesus] said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Luke 9:23-24
I've been known to say that every adoption is a special needs adoption because even though flesh may seem whole,
broken hearts are special needs and they require equal attentiveness...dare I say way more?
And what of my biological children, the ones without the past?
It's safe to say their special needs are just as real as mine. It's for sure, we all need Jesus.
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
1 Corinthians 5:22
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
"None is righteous, no, not one."
Romans 3:10
Ya, we're all broken and it's not supposed to be easy. It's best we accept so we can fight.
I consider a battlefield (not unlike the one we find ourselves engaged in now) and I wonder, What if a soldier mid-battle began complaining to his overseer that people were firing against him? What if he asked him to make it stop because it didn't seem fair or because it was getting really hard? I mean, it's war, right? The soldier signed up for war...and I see that so have we.
broken hearts are special needs and they require equal attentiveness...dare I say way more?
And what of my biological children, the ones without the past?
It's safe to say their special needs are just as real as mine. It's for sure, we all need Jesus.
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
1 Corinthians 5:22
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
"None is righteous, no, not one."
Romans 3:10
Ya, we're all broken and it's not supposed to be easy. It's best we accept so we can fight.
I consider a battlefield (not unlike the one we find ourselves engaged in now) and I wonder, What if a soldier mid-battle began complaining to his overseer that people were firing against him? What if he asked him to make it stop because it didn't seem fair or because it was getting really hard? I mean, it's war, right? The soldier signed up for war...and I see that so have we.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Ephesians 6:10-13
Adoption is war. It's war against an enemy that hates to see God-fearing families take in orphans in their distress, work tirelessly to rebuild what he's attempted to destroy, love the ones most desperate in need in the name of Jesus Christ and for His glory.
There's no question, this is hard and this is war. But...
There's no question, this is hard and this is war. But...
"This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged
because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'"
2 Chronicles 20:15
2 Chronicles 20:15
And the flaming darts don't seem fair and it's getting really hard...
"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one."
Ephesians 6:16
Ephesians 6:16
And what the enemy means for evil, God will work for good...
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,
to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
Genesis 50:20
So when we pray for children who wait to come home, and deal with complexities that stem from past pains, when we sit in hospitals missing each other, and tackle that same issue again...and again...and again...though we want to curse the sin that got us here,
we'll praise the God who called us here and even thank Him for the chance to fight on His winning team because the battle
belongs to the Lord and He fights for us and He's victorious and we're all in...even when adoption is hard.
. . . . . .
we'll praise the God who called us here and even thank Him for the chance to fight on His winning team because the battle
belongs to the Lord and He fights for us and He's victorious and we're all in...even when adoption is hard.
. . . . . .
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57
"Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
Exodus 14:13-14
"For the battle is the Lord's."
1 Samuel 17:47
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
Matthew 25:34-40
"Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
Exodus 14:13-14
"For the battle is the Lord's."
1 Samuel 17:47
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
Matthew 25:34-40
