So, this pattern is starting to emerge in our
life. It’s already happened a handful of times and I have a sneaking suspicion that
it will continue as we move forward… Updates from our adoption agency coincide
with business trips for Chad. We keep receiving e-mail updates
right as Chad is heading out of town. I read an update and all I want to do is
discuss and digest it with him. But he’s gone and I have to wait. Aghhh!
I’ve jokingly said that it’s probably for the
best. Not being able to hash through the information with Chad leaves me to
process it on my own… And to rely on prayer instead of human conversation.
Last week, it went to a whole new level.
We received an adoption update Wednesday. I wouldn’t say it was negative, but
it definitely wasn’t what I wanted to hear. It was realistic and not overly optimistic
about the continued wait time for referrals from Ethiopia. The changes they are
making in-country continue to trickle down and affect the movement (or lack
thereof) for international adoptions.
I called Chad to chat about it, but he was
already in the throes of travel and inaccessible. So I figured that while he
was away I could really take the time to be still, process the information, and
seek the Lord. To do that, I decided to take a 3-day Facebook hiatus. I logged
off and removed the app from my phone… No Facebook.
Literally, just a few minutes later the
internet went down in our whole house. No Facebook. No e-mail. No Netflix. Definitely time to be still and pray… but also some time to text
and vent with friends…
I woke up the next morning and my phone was
dead. It just stopped working. No Facebook. No e-mail. No Netflix. No texts.
No calls. Seriously. I was a little freaked out by the
whole scenario. Chad was gone and I had no way to communicate with anyone.
I
had disconnect from the world, but plenty of ways to connect with God - stillness,
reading, meditation and prayer. And that time was so beneficial and uplifting to
me! The message that I needed to hear was clear… God is saying to me, do you believe
me? Not do you believe IN me… do you really BELIEVE ME? Because believing Him
means letting go of trusting the things of this world (agencies, countries,
laws, adoption processes)… and all of the worry, anxiety and mental time frames
associated with them. It means trusting His power and His plan. I want that!
“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)
And here’s the coolest part of the whole thing…
Chad came home having a similar message and outlook after digesting the agency update. He
feels a renewed contentment with having faith in God’s power and plan. A sense
of relief that all we have to do is believe Him.
God spoke to both of us last week, separately, but together. Love that!
(P.S. All communication is back up and running! :))
(P.S. All communication is back up and running! :))
