Graceful Family

Have you ever had someone in your life who has adopted or is praying about adopting or who is getting ready to start the adoption process?  If so, have you ever wondered how you can encourage or support them?  I don’t pretend to think I know the full extent of the answer to that question but having started the adoption process, here are some things God is teaching me.

When we become a child of God we become a part of a big family.  God, by His grace made a way for us to be a part of His family.  It is a very beautiful thing.  And in bringing us into family He gives us a community, brothers and sisters.  And we need each other. 

A year ago today I took the first step of a 5 step process to adopt here in Guatemala.  That first step was to attend an information workshop hosted by the adoption agency here.  As I sat in that workshop and was given information about adoption I began to questioning “should I really be doing this?  What am I doing?” and thinking “I am not prepared.  I don’t know about raising adopted kids.  I’m not married.”   Those are all very valid issues.  But that is when we must look up.  If God was calling me to adopt He would prepare me.  He would help me know how to raise adopted children just as He would help me know how to raise any child He gives me, for once they are adopted they are your children.  And He would figure out the details of me not being married.  I tell you all this to show you that adoptive parents do doubt, do question, and that is why we need the body of believers (our family) to come alongside us.    

The morning after I had attended the workshop I woke up questioning myself and the adoption.  More questions and doubts.  That morning I asked God to give me wisdom to know if I should follow through.  I asked God to lead me by His truth and through godly men and women. 

Fast forward to later that day.  We had a mission team that had arrived a couple of evenings earlier and they came to dinner as they do every night while they are here ministering.  That particular night as dad asked for prayer requests I had had the adoption weighing on my heart all day so I spoke up.  I explained how I had kind of gone into ‘freak out’ mode so to speak.  I believe being led by the Spirit the team leader decided that the prayer time should be focused on me and so they lifted me and the whole thing up in prayer.  It was a beautiful thing.  It was exactly what I needed in the time I needed it.  That time was truly a gift from God and an answer to my prayer. 

So, what are some ways you can support your friend or family member in adoption?  One way is by praying for them.  They have doubts and struggles too and the process will not be easy.  They aren’t super human.  They need you to lift them before the Father.  Secondly, pray with them.  Let them know that you are there to lift them up when they need it.  And also, point them to Jesus.  In anything God asks us to do we need Him in us to be able to walk in His will.  When they begin doubting or looking at their insufficiencies point them to the all-sufficient One. 

All this does not only apply to adoptive parents but rather to all relationships in the body of Christ.  We all question and doubt.  We all need Jesus and we all need each other.  We all need prayer and we all need reminded of the One who is sufficient for all our needs.

So I encourage you to keep your heart open today to who you may be able to bless.  Maybe you can be the answer to someone’s prayer.

Blessings,

Kristin