Faith in the Sustaining Work of God

I have had the intense pleasure of studying Genesis and Exodus this entire year because of our church's sermon series and a Bible study. And, there is just this one theme that runs through these early books of the Bible, again and again and again, and in case you missed it, again.

"Wait on the Lord. He will fulfill His plan and His purpose. Even things that seem impossible are not too hard for God."

In 2013, when everything fell apart, I heard the voice of God say three words, "I will sustain." At the time, I thought it meant that He will sustain me, and He has. But, I recently looked up the word sustain and realized it has an additional meaning that I did not know or remember:

"In music, an effect where a note continues to play after the key has been released . . ."

Our journey has been long. It began in my heart nearly 20 years ago, and in our family's lives in March 2012, five years ago, when we made the decision to begin the adoption process. In 2013, many of you know our adoption failed because, while the birth mother left Jean Paul in the care of an orphanage, she did not consent to his adoption. I traveled to investigate, withdrew our adoption petition, and ensured that Jean Paul was returned to his birth mother. A few months later, she relinquished him again because she could not care for him due to her health and other issues, and we have supported him in a foster family ever since. We had hoped that we may be able to correct the issues in the first adoption quickly, but a few weeks later, the country closed, and the future of adopted children from the DRC became uncertain. We could not move forward as planned. Deadlines loomed that we would not be able to meet, and we began to accept the reality that, while we had been able to help Jean Paul, we would not be able to bring him home.

While we grieved, the Lord was sweet to sustain us. 2014 was quiet. We received a few pictures. Philip and I took a small trip together. We started to get back to life as normal.

In early 2015, there were murmurs that the country may allow hundreds of children adopted in DRC to come home. This tugged at our hearts, but we were so far from any hope in the process, and there were many factors to consider-the most important one being what would be best for Jean Paul.

But, we could not abandon him when there was hope. Because of a change in the law, we could not work with our previous organization. We had to go this time alone, so, we put the outcome in the Lord's hands and  began the journey of taking the next logical step, and if a door closed, we would allow it.

And, so the Lord's work began, a beautiful note playing, steady through what looked like chaos and uncertainty.

One day, I will sit down and recount all of the miracles and provision the Lord has provided over the last two years. I cannot count the number of doors that could have slammed in our face, and yet, each one has remained open (sometimes surprisingly at the last minute), for us to walk through to the next.  For every need, he has provided someone that could meet it. For every impossible scenario, he has made a way. Through closed countries, through a complicated US process, through political strife and upheaval, he has sustained us, and He has sustained His purpose and plan for our lives.

So, with great joy, I am pleased to recount the goodness of our God--last Friday, Jean Paul was issued a US visa to join our family. Once we find a way to arrange travel, we will bring him home. Thank you for your prayers--they have been heard and answered (they would have been heard and answered had it been 'no' too).

"Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you,
I will praise your name,
For you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old,
faithful and sure."

Isaiah 25:1

Our God, the Great Sustainer in all things, to Him be the glory. May we each look back on our lives and see the beautiful symphony He has pieced together by our joys, our sorrows, and our seasons of waiting that allow us to trust Him and His power to bring all things together for our good and his glory.

We have remained private but have recently been convicted that the Lord loves to hear His people cry out to Him and plead with Him to act in a mighty and God-glorifying way. Therefore, we ask for prayer in the FINAL, FINAL phase of this journey--the DRC has been experiencing political strife for the past 6 months, that seems to be culminating in the weeks ahead. We are waiting on the Lord to make clear travel plans and pave a path for Jean Paul to travel safely to the US. We look forward to celebrating the completion of the work He has begun.