A couple of months ago, my husband and I started to really wrestle with an unsettled feeling within us. As we prayed and really dug into Scripture, we struggled to see our lives as a real reflection of Christ. We were in a comfortable place in many ways, but the Lord would not quiet the stirring within each of us to take another step of faith. One evening as I prayed, I began to feel led to the idea of foster care or adoption. Not wanting to lead the charge myself, I prayed that the Lord would independently lead my husband to the same thought. I never said a word to my husband and just continued to pray for clarity. About a week later, we were riding in the car when my husband said, out of the blue, “I’ve been really thinking about 2 things lately – foster care or adoption.” Needless to say, we have felt 100% convinced since that day that this is something the Lord has led us to do. We have decided on a foster care agency and are beginning the long process of approval, but we are praying with much anticipation for the children who the Lord will entrust to us in the coming years.
You might wonder why on earth we would decide to do this, and you wouldn’t be the first. We have even asked ourselves that question, and it is a good question to ask. Let me start with some of the reasons we are not doing this. We are not doing this to fill any void in our own lives. We’re certainly not doing this so that we will get a pat on the back one day from anyone or so that people will say of us, "They’re such good people!" We’re also not doing this because we think that there are kids who need us to rescue them from evil parents.
The most basic reason is that we really feel strongly that the Lord has led us to this decision, but more important than feelings or perceptions is the mandate in Scripture. James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." The story of the Bible is one of sacrifice and redemption, and as Christians we are to proclaim that story in every facet of our lives. Seeking to be obedient to that command, we are excited to walk with the Lord and rely on Him daily, striving to show these children the love of Christ, which is certainly unconditional but grounded in discipline. At the same time, we want to pray for their parents’ redemption and restoration, lovingly speaking the truth of the gospel into their lives as often as we get the chance, and expecting the Lord to be faithful to His promise in Isaiah 55:11 that His Word will accomplish His purposes.
You may be thinking that this all sounds great…until the reality sets in. We are keenly aware that the reality of this situation is going to be difficult (to say the least). We don’t have any false hope that we are fully prepared or that this road is going to be easy. We rest in the fact that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 promises us, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." We are simply being obedient to Christ, and we are expecting Him to do the work of equipping us and walking with us every step of the way.
More than any material resource, we will need prayer and encouragement. We will soon begin to write family rules to hang in our home that will guide our actions as parents as well as give expectations for all the kids who will stay in our home over the years. We haven’t decided on many, but our first rule will be this, "Everyone who sleeps in this house is family." For whatever short time these kids reside in our home, they will be as if adopted into our family.
What a picture of Christ! At its very core, the gospel of Jesus Christ as represented in the Christmas story is a story of adoption. The story began in Genesis, when God’s people first turned away from our Heavenly Father in favor of our own desires. That story continued through the entire Old Testament, and I know we can all relate as we reject God in favor of ourselves and our ideas daily. In order to restore our relationship with God, a sacrifice was required as well as a mediator to speak on our behalf. Then came the story we celebrate on Christmas. God sent His son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice on our behalf – that through Him as our mediator, we could stand blameless before God, adopted as children of God and co-heirs of Christ.
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. "
Romans 8:14-17
May these words give you a fresh perspective as you celebrate this Christmas season, and may the words of this blog give you an honest picture of the many highs and lows that are sure to come along the way.
Here goes nothing!
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