I remember us talking about our core values and beliefs and both of us saying that we thought it would be really amazing to adopt a child someday. I realize now that when I said that to Matt years ago before we even dated, God was already moving and planting seeds in our hearts. Seeds that He would nurture and then grow seven years down the road. I love how God works! Despite the fears and hesitations, the timing, and the marital issues we have had...God has clearly put it on our hearts to adopt, and it has always been his plan for us.
I am so thankful to God who is patient and faithful with his children. On our own we were too hesitant and controlling to ever come to the decision to adopt. We wanted to paint a perfect picture of what adoption should look like for our family. The perfect situation...where everything is simple and has a happy outcome. Don't misunderstand my saying we "wanted" the perfect situation before. It would be great if this was a smooth ride with little complication...little pain and little heartache. But as God has been sanctifying us we have come to understand that on this side of heaven being a true follower of Christ includes and actually requires complication, pain and heartache. In fact, 1 Peter chapter 12 is titled "Suffering as a Christian". Here God's word says,
"Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christs sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." You notice that God is not saying "if" a fiery trial comes upon you, but "when" it does. Do not be surprised, but suffer well! Rejoice that you are able to suffer along side of your Savior for His Glory! I don't believe that we need to pray intentionally for the fiery trial to come, but we can pray for God to prepare our hearts for the time when it does. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us in the trial so that we can stand firm in Christ and suffer well. "...you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation for Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:6-8.
Trusting God and living the life of one of his followers often requires a bumpy ride, lots of complication, pain and much heartache. The hope is in knowing that we are not riding the bumpy ride or experiencing the pain alone. When answering the call to adopt we are doing so with complete trust in the strength that only God can provide. Knowing that "when" not "if" this is hard, the Lord will pour His grace on to our family and carry us through. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do now have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Anytime God brings a child into our family and entrusts it to our care, it is a time filled with excitement and uncertainty. You are overwhelmed with excitement to bring new life into your home that will add to your family. The uncertainty in pregnancy can be frightening at times, yet we trust the designer and creator of the universe to knit that baby together in the womb perfectly in His image. This time for our family is also very exciting and uncertain. We can't wait to see who God has chosen for our family. We don't know if the child will be a boy or girl. We don't know where they live or if they are even born yet. We don't know if they have suffered drug or alcohol abuse from their birth mother or if they have been cared for in a proper manner. What we do know is that they are a child of God. That He has purposed their life with our family before time began. He loves us and desires that we care for orphaned children.
Although we have never adopted a child before, Matt and I were both adopted. We have been adopted into the family of God. This is not a figurative statement. We did have parents and homes before we were adopted, but we were in a very dark place. We were outside of God's family, enslaved to sin. Before Matt and I were saved we too were lost and alone. We were rebels who had turned away from God to live a life immersed in selfish ambition and sinful desires. We are still sinners and we still struggle with selfish ambition and desire, but when God adopted us into His family He provided for us a Savior, a refuge, and a Helper. He gave us hope and clothed us in righteousness through his son who suffered on our behalf. We have been adopted and now we have the chance to provide a place for a lost child as God provided a place in His kingdom for us. So you see adoption does not only apply to the orphaned children, as many think of, but to all who have put their faith in Christ. He is the most loving Father. He chose us to be a part of His family despite our wickedness and brought us in. He didn't have to. It's a beautiful picture.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=adopted+for+life
**Matt and I are reading this book for the second time. It changed our lives when we read it the first time! It is a beautiful description of the doctrine of adoption that will help anyone in the church have a better understanding of the priority that both Christian Families and the Church must have for adoption.
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