Pray for them.

In Adoption-World?


The wait... can feel like a moving target.


There are so many question marks.


You wait ? number of months for a referral.


Then you wait ? amount of time to receive a court date.

Once you've passed court, you wait ? amount of time to get your embassy appt.


All before you can bring your precious child home.


And question marks are really hard because on good days, you fill in the blanks with small, appealing numbers.


But on bad days? Well, on the bad days, those question marks can feel paralyzing.

Today, I am having a good day. I am optimistic and hopeful. I am seeing good things from the agency and hearing even better things from other familes.

Today, I am optimistically filling in those question marks.

But I know some people who aren't. I know some people who feel incredibly overwhelmed by the question marks. And my heart is heavy.


I can't help but ask myself, 'What can I do???'

I mean. They are 'question marks' afterall.....
 
But even as I said it, I knew the answer.....
 

We pray.

There is a story in the Bible about Moses when the Israelites were battling the Amalekites. As long as Moses kept his arms lifted high, the Israelites were winning. As soon as his arms fell? The enemy started succeeding. But Moses was growing weary. He couldn't keep holding his arms up alone. That is when Aaron and Hur came along either side of Moses. They held his arms up for him so that the Israelites were victorious. (Ex. 17:11-13). Moses couldn't do it alone, he needed others there to lift his arms when he grew weary.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecc. 4:9-12 (NLT)

Satan would love to steal your hope. He knows God has the ultimate victory, so he's going to try to get as many battles won as possible. And we just can't do this thing alone. We can't do it without God. And we can't do it without each other.

This {adoption}journey is a battle. When we grow weary? The enemy has an open door to successfully defer our hope. We all need "Aaron and Hur" sometimes to hold up our arms so we can remain victorious. Pray for them in the way God leads you, remembering strength and perseverance in the battle!


When you're having one of those amazing *good* days? Pray all the things you are positive are going to happen over your friends. Pray for renewed strength, pray that they are encouraged and rested. Pray for God's favor in their situations.

Maybe even send a card to let a waiting momma know you are thinking about her and praying for her heart as she waits.

And when you are having one of those *this is never gonna happen* days? 


Listen. Because prayers are going up on your behalf. 

Trust. Because God has never forsaken you. 

And persevere. Because you aren't finished yet.

We are in this together. We can do this. Together!

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11 (NLT)