Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Trust in God Even When Things Look Bad!
Sarah and Matt have been trying to adopt just about a year now. They have had many trials and heartaches along the way, but Kellen's arrival made it all worth the time and at times pain.
Just before Kellen came along we were all awaiting the birth of a baby boy, he was due on Oct. 31st. I went to Matt and Sarah's the Wednesday before so I would be there when it happened. They needed me to stay with the dogs when they had to make the overnight trip to the hospital when he was born.
In the months preceding this the Lord had been doing an amazing work in Sarah and even Matt since January. He pulled them both through the hardship and pain of the previous adoption attempts. Both have grown by leaps and bounds spiritually.
On Friday I got a call from Sarah. She was at work and she was upset. She had just gotten a call from their adoption counselor who told her the baby they were hoping for had actually been born that Wednesday I had driven down, and that the mom had decided to keep the baby. Needless to say the kids were pretty upset. Sarah has explained to me that it's kind of like literally losing a child. You have the baby named, are all prepared and excited about it and then it's ripped away from you. It takes a strong person to go through the adoption process.
Anyway, after I got off the phone with her, I heard the Lord tell me, just keep praising me and thanking me, there is a child. Now I didn't know what was going on, or how the Lord was going to accomplish this, but He also impressed upon me to call Sarah back and tell her to just start thanking and praising God in spite of the news she just recieved. Sarah had actually gotten this scripture a few days before:
"6 Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. 7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear" Psalm 112:6-8
I called her and told her, "Sarah I know you are upset but you need to just praise the Lord and thank him". I did not know if the birth mom was going to change her mind, or what was going to happen, but what I did know is the Lord had a child for them!
By the time Sarah was driving home from work she had gotten a call from their adoption counselor Kate. She told Sarah how sorry she was, and that they were now at the very top of the list for a baby. Kate also told Sarah she had something in the works, but could not tell her what was going on until after their staff meeting. When Sarah got home, as she walked in the door she was on the phone with Kate.
There was a birth mom who had been calling Kate because she thought she was in labor and could not keep the baby. This is what the agency refers to as a "drop in your lap adoption".
Needless to say Sarah especially was a little hesitant to get her hopes up again after another disappointment. It was Oct. 30th when Kate called with the news of a possible new opportunity.
Again I had no doubts this child was going to be theirs. It was a boy, which is what they had specifically prayed for...the Lord wants us to be specific when we pray, I believe the reason being is that way there is no doubt the answer is from the Lord.
Come to find out she wasn't in labor yet, she had just lost her mucus plug. So the waiting and praying and believing God began. It was an almost two week waiting process. During that time the enemy was on the attack, planting doubts within Sarah's heart. I was excited, Matt was praying and believing. They told very few people about this new potential adoption.
Most people don't understand the adoption process. There are periods of time when you do not have any details or information to share. So to prevent from having to answer endless questions this potential adoption was keep on kind of a hush hush basis.
I had a feeling he was not going to be born before Nov.10th, not that I was happy about that though...countless times even though I knew in my heart it would not be earlier...for Sarah and Matt's sake I just kept asking the Lord..."please Lord could you let this baby be born NOW!"
Kate called and said the mom would be going into the hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 10th. She had been having pains about 8 minutes apart for a few days. So we all got pretty excited..and anxious...waiting and waiting...I kind of thought he might be born on the 10th, since that was my mom's birthday. Mom went home to be with the Lord three years ago this month. She was the one person Sarah was the closest to throughout her life. So it would have been pretty cool.
Kate called Wednesday, the baby had been born at 12:55, so his birthday was actually Nov. 11th, which just happens to be my wedding anniversary. So it was kind of like he was born on both days..in between the two... even though technically his birthday was Nov.11. By that Friday night Sarah and Matt brought home our little blessing from God.
He is in perfect health! Has been the most content and peaceful baby you could ever see. He is amazingly strong and alert for a newborn. Already holding up his head at less than a week old. REALLY---not exaggerating at all! The Lord had this little boy in mind for Sarah and Matt this whole time. The waiting, and the trials was because when we obey and trust the Lord he will give us the best he has for us...Kellen Alexander is a beautiful and perfect little boy. The wait and the sometimes painful moments were indeed worth the wait!
The biggest lesson through all of this is everything is in God's timing! When we try to rush God or go out of our way to make things happen for ourselves, we miss out on the very best blessings. In some cases we can even bring more heartache pain into our lives. The other lesson is trust the Lord no matter what circumstances look like. No matter how you "feel" or what others tell you...The Lord will never ever let us down and faith is based on the word and promises of God...NOT our feelings or circumstances.
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