How God prepared us...
God is faithful to prepare us for how He has chosen to use us. Joel and I met in high school, and even during that time, we talked about wanting to adopt "someday." Over the years, that desire was honed further to being able to adopt while our biological children were still young so that they could grow up together.
After we were married, however, our desire to adopt looked like a dream that would never be fulfilled. Student Loan Debt coupled with me staying home and homeschooling our girls seemed to define our future. We prayed for the desire to go away if it was not to be fulfilled. But it did not leave, in fact in intensified, and it was further honed to the adoption of a "special needs" child.
Finally, we believed that God was leading us to adopt, even though we did not have any money to put in it. We fully believed that if this was His will and His timing, that He would provide. After praying intensely, we stepped out.... but after months of work, God did not provide.
We had prayed harder than we had ever prayed, and we felt so sure! We stepped out when everyone around us told us we were nuts... and God said.... nothing. We were given advice from many people. That was a very tough year for us, to say the least. We second guessed everything... was adoption at this time a desire given by God, or were we trying to push our own agenda? Joel was adamant that we had prayed, that God had led, and that He had another purpose to be filled. I was not so sure.
So here we stood. With the desire for orphans more intense than ever (I would choke back tears and give my desire over to God each time I would receive updates or prayer requests for orphans). I finally came to the conclusion that if God placed this burden on my heart, that there was a reason for it , even if it just meant that I felt what He felt for these children, it was all worth it. We continued to intensely pray, knowing that without a miracle, it would be many years before we would be able to bring a child into our home through adoption.
After we were married, however, our desire to adopt looked like a dream that would never be fulfilled. Student Loan Debt coupled with me staying home and homeschooling our girls seemed to define our future. We prayed for the desire to go away if it was not to be fulfilled. But it did not leave, in fact in intensified, and it was further honed to the adoption of a "special needs" child.
Finally, we believed that God was leading us to adopt, even though we did not have any money to put in it. We fully believed that if this was His will and His timing, that He would provide. After praying intensely, we stepped out.... but after months of work, God did not provide.
We had prayed harder than we had ever prayed, and we felt so sure! We stepped out when everyone around us told us we were nuts... and God said.... nothing. We were given advice from many people. That was a very tough year for us, to say the least. We second guessed everything... was adoption at this time a desire given by God, or were we trying to push our own agenda? Joel was adamant that we had prayed, that God had led, and that He had another purpose to be filled. I was not so sure.
So here we stood. With the desire for orphans more intense than ever (I would choke back tears and give my desire over to God each time I would receive updates or prayer requests for orphans). I finally came to the conclusion that if God placed this burden on my heart, that there was a reason for it , even if it just meant that I felt what He felt for these children, it was all worth it. We continued to intensely pray, knowing that without a miracle, it would be many years before we would be able to bring a child into our home through adoption.