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

God Wants to Heal You

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 5: 6-11 NKJV

As the participants entered the virtual meeting, joy filled my heart.

The squares on my computer screen continued to grow, and with each new face, I could see them as my sister or brother on the journey.

There had been no formal introductions, but we all had one thing in common–we were adult adoptees joining hands, locking arms, and uniting hearts on this journey.

Being a part of an adoption community has been a tremendous blessing to me, a blessing I didn’t even know was available to me.

The first time I used my voice in one such community, I learned God had answered a prayer I had been praying for many years.

There was a time in my life when I would cry myself to sleep because of the overwhelming feeling of loss and abandonment. I internalized my hurt and often lashed out in anger at the people closest to me.

One night, I was utterly drained and overwhelmed by the inner struggle. It was then that I pleaded and cried out to God with one request.

“Lord, please heal me and make me whole.”

This became my daily prayer for decades. I longed to be healed, and God knew the earnestness of my petition.

I don’t know when it happened, but while walking out this journey and giving God the shattered pieces of my heart, He had done major surgery in my life, and I was healed.

I could talk about my adoption story without feeling pain, bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness.

I was free!

Not only did He heal me, but through His love, He restored me and made me whole.

Healing is a journey, and while we may not experience it in the same time frame or process it the same way, it is available for us all.

According to Isaiah 53:5, Jesus Christ “was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

This healing is not limited to physical conditions, but emotional healing is also available to us as well.

Take the time to cast all of your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)

There is not a single part of your story that doesn’t concern Him; however, we must do the work of walking out the healing process.

There is a community of people who are waiting to hear your voice.

They need to see what true healing looks like.

They need to see the healing virtue of God demonstrated through your life.

Holding on to negative feelings, getting upset because of unanswered questions, and blaming others only delay our healing.

My desire and prayer is that adoption will not be a narrative that causes negative emotions to surface, but it will be viewed as an opportunity to see the hand of God extended and working on our behalf.

Respond: What steps will you take to begin the healing journey? Who do you need to forgive? Write a description of who you are as a healed person. What does that look like to you?

My Prayer for You:

I thank God for your life, my dear sister or brother. Even though there have been circumstances in your life that were not favorable, I ask that God will begin the healing process within you. May you know and understand that your life has purpose and you are not a mistake. I thank God for keeping you, protecting you, guarding you, and loving you. May you be overshadowed with His love and peace forever. In Him, you are fully known and deeply loved. Amen.

I genuinely want to connect with you and share the hope and healing that I have found in the word and the presence of God. If you want to lock arms and grow in community, please visit www.adopteesinarms.com to access additional resources. Thank you for taking this step toward healing–you are not alone in this journey!