Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1 has always been one of my favorites. It has always assured me that the desires of my heart would be satisfied in the Lord: The desire for a child, a second child, a large close-knit family, a bunch of grandkids. Giving God our desires surrounding foster care and adoption takes faith.
God Knows Our Desires
We carry many things around in our hearts, and it’s easy sometimes to think that God doesn’t know them. But He does, and He has good plans for you. Before having our first daughter, my husband and I experienced two miscarriages. I vividly remember a doctor telling me after the second one that if I had a third, it would be doubtful that I could conceive and give birth. The news was devastating.
So when I found out I was pregnant the third time, I put all of my faith in God to help me carry to term and deliver. He did. That’s why our daughter’s middle name is Faith. Yet, it wasn’t that simple. I nearly died on the delivery table, and my doctor sternly cautioned me against further pregnancies. After two miscarriages and almost losing his wife, my husband fully agreed. So, I had to put my desire for a second child and a large family in God’s hands.
It wasn’t until years later, when our daughter was eleven, that God would open the door and start pouring out the blessing of that desire in our lives. Over a six-year period, we would go from having one daughter to having seven. Ultimately, God would give us eight beautiful daughters through foster care and adoption. Today, we have four sons-in-law and five wonderful grandbabies, and I know we’re just getting started. Thanksgiving and Christmas are both beautiful chaos that fills my heart with gladness.
Prayers Matter
There is a story in 1 Kings 18 about the prophet Elijah praying for rain and not giving up until he saw the answer. Elijah boldly tells the King to go eat and drink, for there is the sound of the abundance of rain. For context, there hadn’t been a drop of rain for three years. Elijah then goes to the top of Mount Carmel and prays persistently, sending his servant six times to look at the sky, and every time, the servant returns, seeing nothing. On the seventh time, the servant returns to say, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” At this, Elijah told King Ahab in faith to hitch up his chariot and get home before the abundance of rain stopped him. And in a little while, there was a great rain.
Prayers of Faith While Considering Foster Care and Adoption
Taking time to pray persistently as you consider foster care and adoption is step one of your journey. Step two is looking for the small tokens of God’s provision today in answering your prayers. There are clouds as small as a man’s hand waiting for you to notice. Don’t be afraid to look for them.
Here are a few prayer starters to help you seek God in a deeper way:
- Lord, I have faith in you to know the desires of my heart and give me good things in my life. I trust that you are leading me and guiding my heart in this moment. Show me in big and small ways how you would have me proceed.
- I have a desire to help a child in need. Please help me to determine how this desire is meant to manifest in my life, whether I am to bring a child into my home or help a child who is already in someone else’s home through volunteerism, respite, or other ways.
- Like Elijah, please help me boldly know and declare in faith the work you’re doing in my life.
As you step forward in faith as you consider foster care and adoption, whatever your reason for praying through your decision to care for children, remember that faith is the substance of the things you are praying for, and it’s the conviction (evidence) of the things you don’t yet see.
©2024 Pam Parish. Used with Permission.
