So, I've been thinking about a certain man in the Bible lately. I guess because I can relate to him so well. You see, there was this father; and he had a son with some serious medical problems. (According to the Bible, these medical problems were due to a spirit that had come upon the boy--you can read the entire story in Mark 9:17-24). This dad was at the end of his rope. He had tried (as we all would have) to do whatever it took to get help for his son. I'm sure he tried doctors and medicines and treatments--anything he could find...but none of them worked. His son continued to struggle. As a father, he felt completely powerless. So, he brings his son to Jesus' disciples and asks for prayer...again, nothing happens. What must he have felt? Useless? Guilty for not being able to take care of his son? Well, then he works up the courage to speak to Jesus and says, "I brought my son to these guys you call your disciples and they couldn't heal him. What's up?" (my translation) :)
The dad continues to speak out and says, "Jesus--if you can do anything..." in other words, "I've heard the stories about you--and if they're true..." he says, "Please have pity on us and heal my son!"
So there it is...this dad who has come to the end of everything he can think of to fix the situation finally puts himself out there and says, "I can't fix this! I don't know what to do!" He asks Jesus to have compassion. The rest of the story goes something like this: Jesus basically says to the man, "What do you mean IF I can do anything? ANYthing is possible for those who believe."
And here is where I can completely relate to that father...he says (I imagine in a soft, broken voice), "I DO believe..." or "I want to believe that this is possible...but I need You to help me believe."
This was a situation that, for so LONG, had seemed like such an impossibility. How could he really believe for something that had failed to change for all this time? Can't you just hear his heart? "Oh, how I want to believe that this is the time things will change!" He couldn't do it in his own human strength, though, so he asked Jesus for help: "...I do believe, but help my unbelief!"
And this is (one of the MANY reasons) why I love Jesus so much. He doesn't come down on the guy for being weak in his thinking. He just totally and completely heals the little boy. And I can't help but imagine that father's overwhelming gratitude and amazement at what just happened. Something so much bigger than he could have ever imagined. Something that everyone else said was impossible...he was watching unfold right before his eyes.
That's where I am right now. Staring at a mountain that seems impossible to climb; taking tentative steps down a road of which I can't see the end. Believing God for a miracle that--logically--seems impossible; and being SO incredibly thankful that I don't serve a "logical" God. I serve the God with Whom NOTHING is impossible.
Please continue to pray for our family. We feel your prayers and we are grateful for them.
- Pray that we will receive confirmation of a certain document soon. :)
- Pray that each document we've already completed and every document that's still to come has been/will be completed correctly and accepted by the country.
- Please continue to pray for our children--that their hearts will be prepared for us--that they will WANT to be a part of our family.
- Please pray that God will continue to provide financially for this adoption. (And thank you to each and every one of you who have donated--every single cent is a huge blessing to our family!)
- Please pray for our children here--they have begun to express a bit of sadness at the amount of time that Sam & I will be away. Pray for their hearts to be strengthened and comforted.
The money WILL come and the paperwork WILL get done. I've seen it first hand with two people I work with. You guys have already made the biggest step: you decided to adopt.
ReplyDeleteGod will reveal His miraculous power on this journey.
When Aimee and Allen were raising money to adopt Duncan from Ukraine, through RR, they had been at it for about 8 months and had raised about $8,000. Aimee said "Chris we need about $25,000. How are we going to get there?" Before I could say anything, she answered her own question. "I just need to believe don't I?" I said "Yes. Do your part, let God do the rest"
The following Monday, they had $16,000! I asked her how and she said they raised $2,000 at a multi-family yard sale and finally sold a vehicle they had been trying to sell for $6,000.
God DOUBLED what they had in ONE weekend! I could not hardly believe it. It brought tears to my eyes.
He will do what seems almost impossible to us. Sorry for the long comment, but I wanted to share that and encourage you guys. It will happen. :)
I've seen people adopt a 17 year old girl through South Carolina's Heart Gallery. I've seen a group of FIVE siblings adopted. I have seen two sisters adopted less than one month after being listed on SCHeartGallery.org.
I saw a beautiful HIV+ girl from the Ukraine adopted by a family in the midwest. God worked in those lives and He will work in yours.
Chris B.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words! You're right--God WILL provide. This is His journey and He's inviting us to walk it with Him. Can't wait to see what He has planned!
:)
Chris is right. Everything will fall into place. Even as the soon to be Aunt (again), I struggle with the emotions of how do I fit in, how do I help, what is my part, will the children be comfortable with me, will I be a good Aunt? I was so worried that I felt everything was happening too fast for me to absorb, and I'm just the AUNT. I finally just let God take it. He will place me where he wants me to be, doing what he wants me to do, when you need me. I may not have the answers, but God does. As for your beautiful children here, they will be loved, squeezed, hugged, held, fed candy, fed fast food and stay up all hours of the night while you are away (just kidding). Yes they will miss you, but what a joyous occasion it will be when you come home. God sends us on journeys that may seem difficult at the time, but he knows our path and he will light the way and protect all of us. Love you!! Aunt S
ReplyDeleteAs it is said, "God works when nothing else will". Only when things seem impossible can God show us that thru Him All things are possible. Praying for all of you!! Love you guys
ReplyDelete