And redemptive.
I spent some time in Romans 8. I find so much hope here. HOPE. That's what I was missing last week. Of course...hope.
Adoption is difficult.
And requires much prayer.
And sacrifice.
Adoption is joyful.
And sometimes sorrowful.
Adoption is a battle. Ephesians 6 tells us that our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil. I don't think I've ever seen this more clearly than in the world of orphans and adoption.
Last week was hard for me. I could feel the raging war. I could almost hear the ring of the swords as the battle was fought. Good vs. evil. God and His warriors against Satan and his legion of demons. It was very hard to accept that Satan seemed to be winning last week.
The story of Kirill and the judge denying his parents their petition to adopt him - simply because he has Down syndrome. The judge told this couple they should pursue a 'normal' child because there was nothing wrong with their dossier. This judge would not deny them if they petitioned for a 'normal' child. This judge denied Kirill a family...solely because he has Down syndrome. Kirill's family is appealing the judge's decision. Please pray that this decision is overturned and that Kirill can come home.
Another family took their first trip to Russia and had the lovely 8-doctor medical experience. The psychiatrist told them they should consider adopting a 'normal' child because a child with Down syndrome doesn't know the difference between being held and lying in a crib 24/7. This mother was much more gracious with her response than I would've been.
The story of Carrington...a beautiful 3 year old girl...who weighs 11 pounds. She was on the brink of death when her parents brought her home a week and a half ago. Carrington's family adopted 2 girls from the same orphanage. One girl was a favorite at the orphanage (like our Vera) and was well loved and taken care of. Carrington was not a favorite. She was not deemed worthy by her caretakers. Carrington was put in a 'laying' room. Where many children are left to lie in cribs...until they die. Some are tied down so they can't roll around and bang against their crib. Others are drugged to make them sleep most of the time and keep them quiet. Carrington is holding steady at 13 pounds. Please pray for her continued growth and strength. The doctors are trying to get her strong enough for surgery.
A loving mother of 3 kicked out of her apartment and FORCED by her government to choose which of her 3 children would go to an orphanage. Those of you with more than one child, how does a mother make that decision? I can't even imagine. Please pray for this mother. She has two months to get her daughter out of the orphanage before the government begins to terminate her parental rights. She has a new job lined up but is in need of an affordable babysitter for her other two children.
Airplanes, carrying people on their way to adoption related appointments, catching fire and having to turn around.
My precious Jonah had a family. Then he didn't.
A friend of mine, hoping to adopt a teenage boy she hosted over Christmas, was crushed when he told her he didn't want to be adopted.
Children dying while they wait for their families to come get them.
Delays in our own pursuit of adoption.
People whose family and friends have turned their backs on them. For adopting a special needs child. This confuses me greatly. Isn't adoption supposed to bring families together? In some cases, it is tearing families apart.
Can you sense the battle? It's pretty fierce, isn't it? There is a war raging for orphans. As I see the Church awakening to the call to care for the orphans, I also see the enemy preparing to defend his territory. How I pray that as the Church continues to open her eyes to the orphan crisis that she also prepares to fight. The Church must arm herself.
Last week I felt defeated. Knocked around. Beat up. Discouraged. Part of me felt like giving up. Not with the adoption, but with the fight. The exhausting, painful, never-ending fight. Last week I don't even how many times I prayed, "Come quickly, Lord. What are You waiting for?" I found myself longing for Home more and more. It became painfully obvious to me that I am a foreigner here. I don't understand this world or the injustices that go on daily, moment to moment. I am ready for the Kingdom of Heaven. Restoration. Redemption. Creation has been groaning and eagerly waiting to be set free from it's bondage and decay. Last week I joined creation's chorus of groans.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:18 - 39
So now, my sleeves are up, the gloves are off. I am ready to get back in the ring and fight.
Who will join me?
