Standing on the Promises!

So, it’s time for a little honesty on my part. The waiting and wondering about our adoption process has been hard lately. Once again, we are in the place where we have to honestly say that we just don’t know what our family’s future will hold. You’d think after all the years of infertility, not to mention our failed domestic adoption experience, that I would be better at this waiting game. I don’t know if you ever get very good at feeling this sort of yearning in your heart – or I really don’t want to go through what’s necessary to get good at it!

Still, I’m realizing that I have learned a few things in the past 14 years of marriage, and I have been feeling convicted that now is the time when I’d better put them into practice. For me, my best, most effective, never-lets-me-down method of coping with the waiting is Scripture. In fact, I think that might even be Scriptural, as in “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

I have been trying lately to stand on God’s promises, and I thought I might share some of the ones that have spoken to me lately. Please, please, please leave a comment here with the Scriptures that God has been using to encourage you right now. If you are here looking for some good encouragement, don’t forget to click on the comments button at the bottom of this post. I know my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are on this adoption journey with me will have some great words for you too!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…

Psalm 4:6-8 – Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy….I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Matthew 7:11 – If you, then, though you are human, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 6:8-9 - ….Your Father knows what you need before you even ask him. This, then is how you should pray: ‘Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’

Romans 8:28-29,31-32 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son….What, then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

II Corinthians 1:3-5 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so the we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. Fur just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

I John 3:1 – How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Psalm 143:5,8,10 – I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done….Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul….Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Isaiah 55:8-11 – ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seek for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you….’

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.