Known and Loved: A 4-Day Devotional for Adult Adoptees by Iris BryantSampel

God Has Always Been There

“But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.” Exodus 2:3 NKJV

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

When I walked into the movie theater to watch The Prince of Egypt, I never imagined God would choose that time to make my heart pliable concerning my adoption.

Although artistic license was used in the development of the animated musical, there were biblical concepts that could not be overlooked.

When Moses’ mother could not hide or protect him from the decree that Pharaoh had issued, she made the difficult decision of putting her infant in a basket and placing him by the river bank.

She released her son into the unknown and trusted God to protect him when she no longer could.

I had spent years with a concrete barrier around my heart, daring anyone to mention the fact that I was adopted. I wrestled with feelings of rejection and abandonment and often questioned why I wasn’t good enough to be kept by the one who had given birth to me.

Tears streamed down my face as I sat in a nearly empty theater.

Watching Moses’ animated journey caused my heart to swell as I thought of the process that must have taken place from the time of my birth until the day I arrived in the home and my parents' hearts.

One decision changed the trajectory of my life.

That night, the healing process began, and my perspective on my adoption shifted.

What if God had a bigger plan for my life than just the decision that occurred moments after my birth?

What if that one decision was not meant to destroy me but instead to lead me to my destiny?

As I think about Moses’s mother’s steps to ensure his safety, I become keenly aware of God’s hand on my life.

His hand has always been there to guide me and to shield me from dangers I saw and dangers of which I was never aware.

He has shaped my future, and even when I misstep or take matters into my own hands, He safely guides me back into His will.

As we continue to walk out this journey, we must remind ourselves of the promise of Deuteronomy 31:6, “He goes with us, and He will never leave us or forsake us.”

Rest in that promise and know that even when we don’t understand His plan, we can always trust His hand.

Respond: What steps do you need to take to shift your thinking about adoption? Write the blessings that have occurred in your life because of that one decision.