By Jordyn Glaser
“The Life Letters” is an ongoing pro-life series designed to encourage foster and adoptive parents and provide inspiration and insight to all pro-life readers.
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My husband and I slowly wandered the aisles of Home Depot, brainstorming yet again about how to create space in our ever-expanding household. We were only two months away from completing adoption number three, which would bring our family roster up to five kids in all. After extended conversation, including a few poorly constructed sketches, we navigated our way to the “Special Orders” desk to submit an order for double doors to convert our playroom into another bedroom.
At the desk we were greeted by Wayne in his orange apron, who immediately asked us numerous details about our order that only my husband could answer. Finally, after several minutes, Wayne asked a question that I could actually contribute an answer to: “So, why are you guys converting this space?”
“We are in the process of adopting kiddo number five, and we need another bedroom.”
Wayne’s eyes glanced up from his computer and looked between my husband and me with confusion written all over his face. “You know there is a better solution to that problem than remodeling?” Since we were not rookies to this type of scenario, we passed on taking the bait and waited for Wayne to continue and offer his unsolicited advice. “You can just say no.”
Thanks, Wayne.
Hard is Not the Same as Wrong
In the book of Exodus, we find the story of Moses being called upon by God to free his people. It’s not a small assignment, and Moses instantly feels the weight of the task at hand. In fact, he feels so unqualified for the job that he pushes back to the point of asking God to reconsider.
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I,
the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (Exodus 4: 10-13 ESV)
God asked Moses to do something that was incredibly daunting, but unlike us, Moses didn’t have the full story yet. All he saw was a mission that he was woefully underqualified for—and he wasn’t wrong. Moses was just a normal man with normal abilities. In fact, it is believed that in these verses he is referring to having a stutter, which was why he did not want to speak to the people. This job that God had given Moses would be hard, but that did not mean that it was wrong.
We can easily read this story and scoff at Moses’ response to God, but we probably relate to him more than we want to admit. He was afraid and overwhelmed, and more importantly, he was placing too much importance on his own ability. What Moses was forgetting was that this story was not about what Moses was capable of; this story was about what God was capable of.
We Could Have Missed This
After we completed our purchase at Home Depot, we politely thanked Wayne for the doors, and the input, and then we proceeded with the plan—both the adoption and the remodel. We knew that adopting a teenager was not going to be easy. We knew that life would be simpler and probably much more comfortable if we just said no as Wayne had so frankly pointed out was an option. But that was not what God had asked of us to do. Yes, it would be hard—but not wrong.
I’ve always hated the saying “Faith over fear” because I don’t think that’s the correct way to look at it. We can see from many people throughout Scripture, Christ included, that sometimes the fear never goes away and we need to move forward anyway.
Fear is a Prerequisite for Courage
God is not looking for us to be fully qualified and completely unafraid—he is looking for us to be faithful to what he has asked of us. Just think of what Moses would have missed out on if God had let him walk away.
Was it difficult? Yes, of course.
But was it worth it? No doubt about it.
When we say yes to hard things, we get a front row seat to the work God is doing. We need to accept that the world may not understand or support the choices we make. But the good news is that it is not the opinions of the world that matter.
As foster and adoptive parents, we can know that God has asked us to step up and do hard things. But it’s all right, because it’s not really about us.
