We are at the very beginning of our official adoption wait. The papers are in. The family profiles printed and mailed. Now we wait for a potential birthmom to choose us to parent her baby. It is a strange state of limbo to be in. We've felt ready for this next stage of our lives for years now. The average couple makes the decision to be parents and before they know it they're at their first doctor's appointment hearing baby's heart beat.
Any expectant mom will tell you, you start bonding with your baby as soon as you see that positive test. Your hopes, dreams and plans for your future are already being made. The tricky thing is, we already feel attached to this baby. We are already love this baby. We just don't know where they are or when we'll meet them. We are making plans for this next stage of our life but we have virtually no control over when this stage will begin.
As we wait, I take some comfort in the words below, which inspired our blog name. A close friend of mine sent me the below email at just the right time:
"They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength." -Isaiah 40:31, RSV-CE
How do we wait for something we need so badly, something we know for certain is God's will, and something that we just can't live another day without? We must wait patiently and confidently, not complaining. To do otherwise would be to insult God by displaying a lack of faith in His ability to deliver. We renew our strength by "waiting" for the Lord (Is 40:31, RSV-CE).
The Hebrew word translated as "wait" or "hope" in Isaiah 40:31 can mean to twist together, as cords of a rope are intertwined. In our waiting, then, we wrap ourselves around the Lord and He wraps Himself around us. When discouraging forces pull at us, we are not pulled apart. Instead, like strands of a rope, we and the Lord are pulled more tightly together and grow in strength. We never "come to the end of our rope" because the Lord has roped us tightly into His presence.
"Hence do not grow despondent or abandon the struggle" (Heb 12:3). Stay focused on Jesus (Heb 12:2) and confident in Him. Don't even move an inch out of your position of hope.
How did you know this is exactly what I needed to hear today? I'm so sad that we're still waiting right now, telling God that it needs to end, and as soon as possible. Ugh. Clearly I need help with wrapping myself around God and trusting in Him. So hard. Prayers for you guys as you enter this stage of waiting!
ReplyDelete