Devotional: Applying the Bible to my today.
Read: Matthew 5:1-11
This is no gimmick!
No down payment required!
In fact, no payments required at all – and it is SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!
Okay, enough of the crazy stuff, but it is true. I found some very sweet words in the Bible that provide a guaranteed satisfaction.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be SATISFIED.”
Matthew 5:6
How many times have you read this verse and didn’t think a whole lot of it? This verse is embedded into many similar verses that say “Blessed are those who” this, that and the other thing. All of the “blessed” verses have meaning, but they are so simple that it’s easy to just gloss over them with little thought at all.
Over the past month – as we wait and wonder what will happen with our adoption of HC into our family, I have been praying and thinking about God’s promises to me. Did he promise that He would bring HC into our family? Did He ever promise to grow our family beyond what it is? Did He ever promise that my heart would stop aching for the children that are in Heaven?
He has spoken very little to me directly about His promises, but the Bible is filled with general promises to His people – including me. Honestly, this has been frustrating to me because the waiting game is SO hard. If He had just spoken to me and said, “HALEE, THOU SHALT ADOPT LITTLE HC”! I believe God will do what He says He will do, but He didn’t specifically tell me we were to adopt HC; therefore, I must rely on things like “God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28) – which could mean that HC will come to be with our family… or not. AUGH!
So, like some of you, the unknown is so difficult, and the mind could go ’round and ’round on the “what ifs” and the “if onlys”. I do often times feel “if only HC were here now, my heart would be content.” But the reality is that there is very little chance that every aspect of the adoption will meet all the expectations I’ve had time to conjure up in my head; therefore, the disappointment and frustration will surely continue if my satisfaction is contingent upon the adoption – It is the same for you also… have you been saying to yourself, “If only… then I will be satisfied”?
What is the “…” for you? Is it your spouse behaving the way you would like them to behave? Is it having more money? Is it having more time on your hands? Is it the loss of a loved one? – Surely all these things are difficult and can be heart wrenching, but to put our hope into such things will cause a lifetime of agony and sheer disappointment.
Today, my prayer is that I will – rather than focusing so much on the adoption, or the security of Reese, or the love of my husband…. or whatever else it may be – I will instead hunger and thirst for righteousness so that I can truly be satisfied. My heart will still grieve, long for, desire all these other things – but my heart and soul are designed to hunger and thirst for God first and foremost.
Father God, I lift up those who are in the “waiting place”… the place of so many questions and concerns… the place that seems to have no end. Please, Father, help us to fix our eyes upon the things You desire for us. May we hunger and thirst for Your righteousness so that our hearts may be truly satisfied even in the midst of the storm. You are a great and mighty God – and I praise You in advance for being all-knowing and willing and work all things to our good as we seek to love and obey You. – Amen.
ADOPTION UPDATE
There has been several things that have caused delay in the entire adoption system; therefore, our process has also been delayed further. We assume at this point it will be first quarter of 2015 before we will bring him into our home. Regular updates are given to us from the agency, in which, HC seems to be doing very well. He continues to reside with the same foster family that he’s been with since he was 5 months old (he is now 20 months old)! They appear to be a beautiful, loving family to HC – and for that we are sooooo grateful!