No one likes to wait. Whether you’re waiting for your bus or waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting feels like you’re wasting time.
When you’re in the process of waiting to be chosen as a parent by a birth mother, the delay can be even more difficult. But in your eagerness to bring home your sweet child, don’t miss an important part of the adoption story God has for you and your child.
If you’re feeling weary of waiting, don’t give up. Hold on to God’s words for strength and help while you wait to be chosen.
I love this Instagram post from biblequote365, a “to-do” list which includes verses to help you find strength and hope in God! Here’s how you can apply these verses to your adoption wait:
Wait Patiently
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.
-Psalm 27:14 NIV
God uses waiting for your good. Waiting to be chosen by a birth mother might feel like wasted time, but God can use waiting to grow and strengthen you. Waiting can:
- Produce patience
- Transform and build character
- Reveal motives
- Build your dependence on God
Have Faith
For we live by faith, not by sight.
-2 Corinthians 5:7)
God isn’t making you wait to punish you. He loves you enough to send His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins and to draw you closer to Him.
The waiting is for your own good. So don’t give up, even though you can’t see what’s ahead. Believe that God has your interest and your child’s interest in mind as you wait.
Pray
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
-Philippians 4:6 NIV)
Prayer is talking to God. He wants you to tell Him your frustrations and fears. Praying gives you a chance to draw closer to God. He promises to provide you with peace even in the most difficult times.
Think of Others
…not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.
-Philippians 2:4 NIV
While you’re waiting to be chosen by a birth mother, it will be helpful to get your mind off your circumstances. Thinking of others could be helping a neighbor, a family member, or a friend in need.
People appreciate hearing about your journey, so share what God is saying to you as you wait. You never know if something you say will help someone else in their difficult situation.
Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
-Proverbs 3:5 NIV)
Waiting to be chosen by a birth mother is an out-of-control experience. There’s nothing you can do but wait and trust God is at work. Lean on Him. He’ll get you through the tough days of waiting.
Read God’s Word
Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.
-Psalm 119:12 NIV)
While you’re waiting, allow God to speak to you through His word. As you read and study God’s word, you’ll receive the grace you need to get through each day.
Keep a journal to write about what you read and how God speaks to you. Then, when your child is older, you’ll be able to share your journal with them and remind them how God helped and prepared you for their arrival.
Give Thanks
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
-Psalm 136:1
If you’ve truly put your faith in Jesus and His work on the cross for your sins, you can rest assured that God is there for you. His promises are good and not evil. He promises love and grace for each day of your life. He is faithful and true in the darkest trials.
Even if you’re waiting longer than you wanted, you can thank the Lord for the many good things He’s done in your life. Thank Him for:
- His salvation through Jesus Christ.
- His promises to you that won’t fail.
- His grace to get through each day.
- His constant love for you.
- His forgiveness.
There is always something to be grateful for. Even the basic things in life are worth thanking God for.
Remember, waiting has a purpose. God isn’t as concerned with the end result as He is with the process. So, allow these verses to inspire and help you as you wait to be chosen by a birth mother.
Founder of Lifetime Adoption, adoptive mom, adoption expert, and Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P).
Since 1986, adoption expert Mardie Caldwell has been dedicated to bringing couples and birth parents together in order to fulfill their dreams.
“Many years ago, I was also searching for a child to adopt. We didn’t know where or how to get started. Through research, determination, and a prayer, our dream of a family became reality. I started with a plan, a notebook, assistance from a caring adoption consultant and a lot of hard work; this was my family I was building. We had a few heartaches along the way, but the pain of not having children was worse!
Within weeks we had three different birth mothers choose us. We were overwhelmed and delighted. Many unsettling events would take place before our adoption would be finalized, many months later. Little did I know that God was training and aligning me for the adoption work I now do today. It is my goal to share with our families the methods and plans which succeed and do not succeed. I believe adoption should be affordable and can be a wonderful “pregnancy” for the adoptive couple.
I have also been on both sides of infertility with the loss of seven pregnancies and then conceiving by new technology, giving birth to a healthy daughter. I have experienced first-hand the emotional pain of infertility and believe my experience allows me to serve your needs better.
It is my hope that for you, the prospective parents, your desire for a child will be fulfilled soon.”
