Hello Dear Friends and Family!
Many of you have recently asked what the latest news is
regarding our adoption, and so I realized it was time to update the ole
blog. In May we were number 9 on the
wait list for a referral. We were super
excited to finally be in single digits.
Then the letdown came in June- we were yet again number nine. A whole month went by and we didn’t move up a
single spot. Now, you may be thinking, “one
month- that’s not that big of a deal”- but when you are 21 months into the process
and have been waiting 9 months on the list for a baby, each and every month
seems to last forever. I was
devastated. I was angry and had no idea
with whom. Our adoption agency? No, it was out of their control. God?
Well, no, because it is in His control.
The night we got the update we were able to go the waiting
families meeting for our adoption agency and, we were so glad we did. It was so encouraging to talk to other
families that were experiencing the same agonizing wait and frustration, and to
pray for one another. I settled down and
came to the conclusion that anger was probably not the best response, but trust
and hope in a sovereign God is supremely better.
The past month I’ve been studying the Gospel of John and a
recurring theme I’ve noticed is the sovereignty of God’s timing. There were so many instances where the
leaders were ready to accuse Jesus and make their arrest, but Jesus would avoid
their ploys again and again, because the right time had not yet come- there was
still more for Jesus to do and say and show before his death and
resurrection.
Today I read in John about Jesus raising Lazarus from the
dead. If you are familiar with the
story, you know that Jesus waited two days before beginning to travel to see
his dear friend who was deathly ill. When
he finally got to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. His sisters, Mary and Martha, were crushed,
and both expressed to the Lord that had He been there, He could have healed their
beloved brother. They endured the awful pain of losing Lazarus, but then they
had the awesome privilege of seeing the power of the Lord on full display when
Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb.
Oh to have been there on that day! What wonder!
What power! What love!
Jesus could have been at Lazarus’ side instantaneously when
He heard of his illness, but He chose to wait.
Why? Because He was uncaring, oblivious, or mean? Um, no, He has already shown that His
character is the exact opposite- He is caring.
He is all knowing and aware. He
is kind beyond measure. He waited because
He knew there was a perfect timing for His purposes. We see this truth in this story in so many
ways:
1. His complete rejection by the Jewish people was just at hand, and the disciples needed this vivid reminder of who He was- the Messiah, the Son of God- before their faith would be put to the ultimate test. Perfect timing.
2. John 11:45 tells us that, “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen”- salvation came to many because He waited. Perfect timing.
3. There were also some who saw the miracle and went to the Pharisees to report about Jesus- this event was what finally led to the Jewish leaders beginning to plot Jesus’ death. Perfect timing.
4. He displays the glory of God by raising Lazarus FOUR whole days after He had died. I’m so thankful for this glimpse of His might and power- a mere speckle of the glory to be revealed at the final resurrection of the dead.
I find such peace in knowing that He has perfect timing for
everything according to His purposes.
Wonder if we’ll see in this lifetime why we have waited and waited and
waited for this baby? Maybe, maybe not,
but I’m trusting that He has seen and He knows. I am hoping that when we have our sweet baby at home we can say like Mary and Martha that we endured the painful wait to see the glory, love, and power of our awesome God.
So here’s the good news- drum roll, please…..
We are number SIX now!!! That’s right, we moved a big,
whoppin’ three spaces on the list, which is the most in one month since
November 2011. I prefer to say to myself
not that we are number six, but that there are five families on the list in
front of us… Five sounds better than six, don’t you think? We were thrilled to get this news at the
beginning of July, and are hoping and praying that we are a bit closer when we
get an update in the beginning of August.
Thanks to the Facebook updates of our adoption agency we know that at least
two families have received referrals this month so far (yay for children
getting forever families!!!), but it is possible that these folks are behind us on the
list if the referrals were not for babies (we’re pretty sure that the five
families ahead of us all want babies, too).
I don't know how families sit and wait for babies when they don't know Jesus. If I didn't have absolute assurance that He was in control of this situation I would have lost my mind by now. Instead, I have Jesus and so I have peace. Doesn't mean that there are not days where my human nature creeps up with feelings of frustration and sadness, but at the end of the day there is rest in the knowledge that the king and creator of all has got it under control.
Thanks so much for the prayers and encouragement. I really can’t tell you what it means to us
when you ask what’s going on and tell us you are praying. At times this feels like a never-ending
journey, and it’s nice to know we have people who are walking it with us in prayer. We are trusting in His plan- and writing
blogs now to remind us of His sovereignty in the months to come, just in case… J
