How To Adopt Without Ruining Your FamilySample

Tip #9 - Find Strength in the Lord

Adoption can be a taxing endeavor. Much of the difficulty can result from disparaging needs prevalent in children coming out of difficult circumstances. My children have faced tragedy common, and not so common, to orphans around the globe. One has a rare form of a rare disorder. Another has experienced hunger to the degree she has literally eaten the shirt off her body. I have dear friends with children who endured unthinkable wrongs and those paying the consequences for the choices of others. The marks left by these hurts and atrocities do not dissipate with a court hearing or the sudden surrounding of a loving environment. The needs can be insatiable.

The behaviors exhibited can be irrational, self-destructive, and beyond our ability to cope. The responsibilities are daunting. The sheer magnitude of what is required just to get life done every day is more than can be accomplished. The more I give, the more unmet need often rears its ugly head. There is not enough of me.

Sobering, then, are the late night realizations that you signed up for this role until your dying breath. This isn’t a free puppy from the local shelter. Anxiety, uncertainty, fear, depression, loneliness, and burdens carried on behalf of the fatherless invade our thoughts. We haven’t the strength for the journey.

You don’t have the strength.

Neither do I.

Nor did Paul. I think this is how he is able to encourage Timothy to find strength in the Lord. He has experienced giving until there is nothing left to give. The good news is that the Bible tells us exactly where to look when we don’t have the strength to go any further. Jesus is full of grace. And His abundance is given to every believer freely and completely.

We must remember that He never intended us to bear the weight of this walk. His passion is to rescue the fatherless. His method is using His people in His strength. My strength is not enough. Cheri Strange does not satisfy needs. Only the fullness of Jesus understands needs that are insatiable. Only He is all-satisfying.

Take your worn out self to Jesus. Let yourself off the hook for not being able to satisfy needs you were never called to fulfill. Instead, allow His grace to strengthen and renew you. He will supply you all you need to accomplish all He asks you to do.