Riches from Afar (part 1)

 

A big decision that would affect the rest of our lives was scheduled to be made on July 8.   I was praying for the Lord's favor that we might be able to adopt two siblings.   I shared with a friend that I was waiting for a word from the Lord.  My friend, her husband and seven kids wrote me that they would be praying that God would be glorified as he DOES set the lonely in families.  As only the Lord can orchestrate, I began reading Isaiah chapter 43 that day.  Because I wasn't reading on a plan, I just picked up where I left off reading in Isaiah from the day before.  I started to cry when I got to verse 5 and 6.

 

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--"

 

I was overwhelmed that Christ would let me read those words on that particular decision day.  I felt so unworthy in His Presence.  Tears slipped down my cheeks because I was amazed that he would choose to speak to me and whisper his intimate intentions so that I would feel them in a resounding way.  And as often happens, when you get a word from the Lord, disappointing circumstances loom large and entice you to doubt what you just heard.  Therefore, it wasn't surprising that the next day I found out that the board in the Philippines did not discuss us or the children we hoped to make ours.  Our case was still unheard.