- Focus on Jesus keeps us from setting our own expectations, romanticizing the journey. He keeps us balanced and grounded - able to live in both the present life at home and still mindful of the child that is not yet home. (II Corinthians 10:5)
- Focus on Jesus reminds us to pray for more than a quick process. Jesus wants us to pray for the heart of the orphan, for the hope of the nation of his/her birth, for the redemption of the governments involved, for the process of other people's journeys, for our children at home as they face the changes to come, for our spouse to stay focused on Jesus. He wants us to pray against the principalities at war against our children's homecoming, against sickness and starvation, against darkness. There is so much prayer to be done on this journey, but focusing on the orphan will not produce such prayer. Focus on the orphan narrows our vision and causes us to pray for what's on our left rather that what is coming our way on the right. (Romans 8:26-27)
- God's desire is to carry our burdens for us. We feel the weight of the journey because he created the desire in us to care for the orphan, so our hearts will certainly break along the way. But God does not intend for us to be crushed by it. He rather desires the weight to remind us constantly to look to him rather than the difficult circumstances at hand. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
- God's business is to set the lonely in families, meaning HE does the work. HE alone is Redeemer. (Psalm 68:6)
- God is the Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). His love for the orphans we pursue/care for is far greater than our own.
Peace to all who struggle to walk down this road.
3 comments:
Thank you so much for sharing this, Celina. I think God wants me to change the way I've been praying for a lot of things. So many times I just want Him to wrap up everything quickly with a nice little bow. This list helps me a lot...not only in praying for your (and other friends') adoption process but also for many of the areas that I'm struggling in. Thank you.
Oh I am so so sorry you are still waiting. This is a beautiful post and I admire your courage as you move through a very tough process.
wow, this made me cry. It is obvious, not only from spending time with you, but also reading this that God has done an amazing work in your heart since the beginning of this adoption process. Your expectations have changed, your prayers have changed and God remains the same! Praise Jesus!
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