It seems like as soon as we made public our intent to become
foster parents, everyone we talk to had a story. A story about how someone they know fostered
a 4 year old child who tried to murder them in their sleep. Or how they took in a struggling teen who
stole their debit card and cleaned out their bank account. Or how their case worker yanked them around and
the system failed and they would never put themselves through that again. And if they don’t have a story, they
certainly have an admonition for us to protect our family and lock up our valuables,
their tone often shaded with perplexity and sometimes even disapproval.
I really do understand where those well meaning and concerned are coming from. I really do understand that most hearts intend only to
caution and speak wisdom and balance.
The thing is, when did our goal become easy? When did our Lord call
us to comfortable or safe? When did
picking up our cross and laying down our life become a sterilized metaphor for
avoiding rated R movies and being nice to the person who sits next to
us at church?
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I John 3:16-18
Lay down our lives. . .love. . .with actions and in truth. Working this out, what this looks like for each of us is different. But Scripture is absolutely, unwaveringly clear. It. Will. Not. Always. Be. Easy. Or comfortable. Or safe. It will cost us everything - our lives. But here is the glorious mystery. "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
We know as we begin this journey toward fostering and adoption, that there are no promises. We have no romanticized expectations. We are not demanding a happily ever after before the story is even begun. We understand that it will be hard and overwhelming and frustrating. We have no doubt that we will struggle and flounder and fail more often than we succeed. We get that loving and committing to kids who have been through more than most of us could even fathom is going to require farm more heart and compassion and wisdom than we possess.
But we also know this: His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness (I Corinthians 2:19). We know that though our flesh and our heart may fail, God alone is our strength and portion forever (Psalm 73:26) and He will work every moment of our lives together for His good purposes (Romans 8:28). We know that the compassion and and love and wisdom we need will come not from our own broken and insufficient hearts but from the Father of lights from whom all good and perfect gifts come, and who gives wisdom generously to anyone who asks and without finding fault (James 1:5, 17)
We know that in the faces of broken children we will see Christ Himself. We trust that in loving them, we are loving Him. We desperately hope that seeds will be planted and that the only One who is capable of making good things grow will produce beautiful fruit for His glory. We believe that in laying down our lives, we will find Life.
Some days I am so incredibly filled with expectation and anticipation and joy for the journey. Some days I take nothing captive and I turn the words of caution and warning over and over in my head. The ones about the failures and the scary and the hard and I exchange all of that peace and joy for anxiety and doubt. But I am praying. I so desperately desire to ask believing, without doubt, not double minded or unstable, blown and tossed by the wind but with a steadfast mind, kept in perfect peace because I trust in the One who alone is worthy of my trust. And when I falter - Lord I do believe! Help my unbelief! And oh friend, He is faithful!
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I John 3:16-18
Lay down our lives. . .love. . .with actions and in truth. Working this out, what this looks like for each of us is different. But Scripture is absolutely, unwaveringly clear. It. Will. Not. Always. Be. Easy. Or comfortable. Or safe. It will cost us everything - our lives. But here is the glorious mystery. "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
We know as we begin this journey toward fostering and adoption, that there are no promises. We have no romanticized expectations. We are not demanding a happily ever after before the story is even begun. We understand that it will be hard and overwhelming and frustrating. We have no doubt that we will struggle and flounder and fail more often than we succeed. We get that loving and committing to kids who have been through more than most of us could even fathom is going to require farm more heart and compassion and wisdom than we possess.
But we also know this: His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness (I Corinthians 2:19). We know that though our flesh and our heart may fail, God alone is our strength and portion forever (Psalm 73:26) and He will work every moment of our lives together for His good purposes (Romans 8:28). We know that the compassion and and love and wisdom we need will come not from our own broken and insufficient hearts but from the Father of lights from whom all good and perfect gifts come, and who gives wisdom generously to anyone who asks and without finding fault (James 1:5, 17)
We know that in the faces of broken children we will see Christ Himself. We trust that in loving them, we are loving Him. We desperately hope that seeds will be planted and that the only One who is capable of making good things grow will produce beautiful fruit for His glory. We believe that in laying down our lives, we will find Life.
Some days I am so incredibly filled with expectation and anticipation and joy for the journey. Some days I take nothing captive and I turn the words of caution and warning over and over in my head. The ones about the failures and the scary and the hard and I exchange all of that peace and joy for anxiety and doubt. But I am praying. I so desperately desire to ask believing, without doubt, not double minded or unstable, blown and tossed by the wind but with a steadfast mind, kept in perfect peace because I trust in the One who alone is worthy of my trust. And when I falter - Lord I do believe! Help my unbelief! And oh friend, He is faithful!
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