Yesterday, Tiffany and I had a family phone interview with the agency we are seeking international adoption through. This is not our first phone interview, as we have been on the domestic waiting list for a year. There was however a profound difference in this interview compared to previous interviews. Our confidence in the Lord's provision and plan. A year ago we pursued infant domestic adoption, and in all honesty were very excited about the possibilities. Through that process we learned a lot about ourselves and about the adoption process as a whole, but at times we were uncertain of our steps. A couple of months ago when we changed our pursuit from domestic to international we at first felt like we started all over, almost as if we wasted that year of waiting. After spending a day in reflecting on our phone interview yesterday, I have seen areas that the Lord has been preparing us for this adoption. One area that has grown is our understanding of God's will as it relates to adoption.
The preparation we have gone through reminds me of the preparation that so many figures in the Bible went through. The preparation that Moses went through has been an encouragement to me. Moses spent the first forty years of his life being trained as a leader under Pharaohs care. He then spent forty more years learning how to live in the desert as an outcast. I wonder how many times he felt like this time in the desert was being wasted. Then the Lord called him to deliver His people, using the training of the past 80 years leading the Israelites out of Egypt. It was not Moses' great leadership skills that made this possible, but rather his great following skills. He had learned the value in surrendering to the Lords guidance.
Exodus 13:21
"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night."
The Lord went before Moses and the Israelite's making clear the path they should take. Yesterday as we waiting for our phone call I found Tiffany and I praying for the Lords clear guidance. Although we have sought the Lords guidance all along (and will continue to do so in the future) we felt assured that we were following the "cloud" or "fire" of God's will. I was reminded of the words found in
James 1:27
"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."
During our time of prayer I was reminded that God has already spoken clearly on what His will is for orphans, to look after them! This is and has always been the desire of Tiffany and my heart! We were reminded that this is also the desire of our Heavenly Father's heart. It was almost as if we are experiencing first hand the words of the psalmist "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." It isn't that our desires our so great, but as a family and couple we have found and are finding our joy in the Lord. As the Holy Spirit has been working in our lives He has been shaping our desires. How exciting the phone interview was, and how excited we are to move forward to the next step. I find the prayer of my heart echoing the old hymn (re-done by Christ Tomlin):
All the way my Savior leads me;
Who have I to ask beside?
How could I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
All the way my Savior leads me;
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
As we move forward we know the Lord is preparing us to be the parents we need to be to Luke and Mya and whatever other children He has waiting for us. May we always be preparing knowing nothing is wasted in the kingdom of God.
The preparation we have gone through reminds me of the preparation that so many figures in the Bible went through. The preparation that Moses went through has been an encouragement to me. Moses spent the first forty years of his life being trained as a leader under Pharaohs care. He then spent forty more years learning how to live in the desert as an outcast. I wonder how many times he felt like this time in the desert was being wasted. Then the Lord called him to deliver His people, using the training of the past 80 years leading the Israelites out of Egypt. It was not Moses' great leadership skills that made this possible, but rather his great following skills. He had learned the value in surrendering to the Lords guidance.
Exodus 13:21
"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night."
The Lord went before Moses and the Israelite's making clear the path they should take. Yesterday as we waiting for our phone call I found Tiffany and I praying for the Lords clear guidance. Although we have sought the Lords guidance all along (and will continue to do so in the future) we felt assured that we were following the "cloud" or "fire" of God's will. I was reminded of the words found in
James 1:27
"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."
During our time of prayer I was reminded that God has already spoken clearly on what His will is for orphans, to look after them! This is and has always been the desire of Tiffany and my heart! We were reminded that this is also the desire of our Heavenly Father's heart. It was almost as if we are experiencing first hand the words of the psalmist "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." It isn't that our desires our so great, but as a family and couple we have found and are finding our joy in the Lord. As the Holy Spirit has been working in our lives He has been shaping our desires. How exciting the phone interview was, and how excited we are to move forward to the next step. I find the prayer of my heart echoing the old hymn (re-done by Christ Tomlin):
All the way my Savior leads me;
Who have I to ask beside?
How could I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
All the way my Savior leads me;
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
As we move forward we know the Lord is preparing us to be the parents we need to be to Luke and Mya and whatever other children He has waiting for us. May we always be preparing knowing nothing is wasted in the kingdom of God.
