As I have become increasingly involved in the adoption community, one thing has become blatantly apparent to me.
Adoption is a faith journey.
I have come to understand that there is one belief that those who adopt clearly espouse, there is one belief that separates those who do and those who never take that first step.
People who adopt believe, with all of their hearts, that God’s heart is for the orphan and that He alone will bring them home.
Furthermore, people who adopt believe that no matter what unknown difficulties may arise in the future while caring for these children God has so miraculously entrusted to their care, God will provide everything they need.
So today, I want to write about that faith. I want to write about what it looks like and what it feels like. And I pray that God will work His magic and use the feeble words of this humble servant to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone, and believe God to do the miraculous in your lives.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~Hebrews 11:1
Faith, by its very definition, is the substance, the evidence, the tangible of what will come to pass.
In the Book of Genesis we read that God spoke the world into existence.
He created the tangible from the intangible, from His word.
We aren’t taught in this world to believe.
We are taught to plan ahead. We are taught to live cautious, careful lives according to our own abilities and resources. We are never taught to throw ourselves into the arms of our Heavenly Father and trust Him to provide and make a way where there is absolutely no earthly way.
In fact, we are taught that would be irresponsible, even in many churches.
But the Bible tells a different story.
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,…Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ~Romans 4:18-21
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6: 25-34
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well….
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ~John 15, 7,8
God desires us to do His will, that our lives would bear much fruit, and promises to supply everything we need for His glory.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ~Matthew 11:24
…believe that ye have received it…
And here’s where I think so many of us falter.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. ~James 1:6-8
There are so many days when our faith is weak, when we feel as though we have believed God for something far too big.
But nothing is impossible for God. Luke 1:37
When our faith waivers, we can trust the words of Jesus and believe until the end.
When the doubts come, we can utter a one sentence prayer thanking Him for making a way even when we can’t see it.
Over and over again, we can pray, “Thank you, Lord, that we have everything we need to bring the children home.”
Our job is to stay in faith, to believe.
I think sometimes we fail to see God provide because we get close to the end, and we work a solution of our own.
Don’t do that.
You can trust Him.
He will provide everything that you need.
Stand in faith until the end.
He is the God of the last minute rescue.
Remember the Israelites and the Red Sea?
Could God have waited any longer? The Bible says the people were terrified and were convinced they were as good as dead.
And then Moses spoke his famous words…
Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:13,14
Trust the One who called you until the end.
He will not fail you, or the precious children you have stepped out in faith to care for.
He is faithful!
Blessings!
Very well said, Diane!
Chantelle Grubbs recently posted..Storms
Oh Diane. Thank you. 🙂
Needed to hear this today! So true….
A Mother’s Heart recently posted..Out of Sync
Very well said Diane ! With both of my adoptions, I felt like I was jumping off a cliff into the unknown. I did it with hope and excitement but also trepidation ! How would it change my life ? Would it work out ? As you know, I feel blessed to be a mom. God has blessed me in so many ways.
Many people think that they would like to adopt but a much smaller number overcome the inertia and do it. Hopefully your post will spur more people to “jump off a cliff” like I did.
Thank You so much My Friend. I really needed these words today.
May God Bless.
PapaGordon