Keeping Faith in the Waiting

In January 2018, 18 months after we received placement of our foster daughter, we finalized our adoption of her. We chose “Selah” for her first name because it means “to pause and reflect”, which is what God gave us time to do in our Healing House before she came to us.

We had been given 3 dates to choose from for our adoption hearing: January 31, February 7, or February 14. I chose January 31 even though that date was only a week away because we just didn’t want to wait any longer.

The morning after the adoption hearing our adoption worker called; “I don’t normally do this, but it was so amazing to me that I had to tell you what just happened. Selah’s grandmother just called to say she wanted to adopt her granddaughter ASAP!”

Had I chosen February 7 or 14, our adoption would have been put on hold for up to a year because the grandmother would have had to be considered even though Selah was removed from her due to abuse and neglect! Even though she and the birth parents already had 18 months to get their lives straightened out to create a safe space for her. Even though they were told by the court that their rights were terminated and were still given another month to ask for another chance to win their rights back! Not one family member called during that month before the adoption.

Praise God, Grandmother was told that it was too late, and no information could be given!

Interestingly, we found out later that Selah was supposed to have been removed from her dangerous home in May of 2016. At that time, we were just getting settled in our new house and didn’t have our foster license yet.

Selah had somehow slipped through the cracks, probably because no CPS worker would go into that neighborhood without a police escort! She was not removed until 2 weeks AFTER we got our foster license in July! We have no doubt that this girl was meant to be part of our family!

We had begun praying for a baby sister or brother for Selah. Our teen bio daughter helped me choose names for a boy and a girl, since we didn’t know who God would choose for us but we knew that we would change his or her name just as we did for Selah. I was thrilled that she actually took the time to help me choose names, because in reality she and everyone else thought I was crazy to even think about foster/adopting one more baby at my age.

I had been reading Mark Batterson’s book The Prayer Circle, and on April 12, 2018, as I was searching scripture to write a prayer for ALL our children my eyes were drawn to Isaiah 49:22 & 23 “…they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers.” I didn’t even know that scripture existed!

God had spoken to my heart with that scripture for several reasons! Our last name is King, we were foster parents, my husband often calls me his Queen, he carried Selah on his shoulders every day for fun, and I was praying for a newborn to nurse. I took this as an answer from the Lord – that He was indeed going to place another baby in our home, a son young enough to be carried in arms.

My prayers intensified after that because I wanted to be sure that I was not reading too much into that scripture. On May 4, 2018, I received a call from our agency about a 1-week old baby boy who was about to be removed from his mother due to drugs and 5 other prior removals. Of course, I said yes, but then the judge decided not to remove him after all. I recorded the baby’s name in my journal and prayed for him.

Ten days later I met an older woman at Selah’s gymnastics class. That day, for some reason, we were the only attendees present. I love how God causes complete strangers

to meet at just the right times. We ended up talking and sharing our stories.

I told her about the affirmations I have Selah repeat every day, “I am loved, I am safe, I am strong….” And that we are praying for a baby brother or sister but think because of the scripture I was led to that it’s a boy. She told me that the boy she had brought to class was the child of her ADOPTED son.

She took my hand and said a prayer right on the spot that reflected the story of baby Moses being returned to his mother – changing the name to Solomon and having

him returned to me in the Lord’s time. I put her BOLD prayer in my heart and pondered what it meant.

But Jesus used me to bless her as well. This Grandmother shared that she had struggled with low self-esteem her entire life due to abuse as a child. She asked me to say Selah’s affirmations with her! Then I reminded her that the “Jesus Loves Me” song isn’t just for us to sing to others, it’s for her personally. I asked her to ask Jesus, “do you love me?” With tears in her eyes, she said “YES.”

That afternoon our agency called to ask if we would take placement of a 6-month old girl. She would likely have 3 visits per week with her bio mother. My heart was in turmoil. I wanted to say yes out of desperation for another baby, but I wanted to trust in the Lord for a son after what had just happened.

I answered that we would take the baby short term only if it was for an emergency and they couldn’t find another home for her. She was placed elsewhere.

I really struggled with whether I had made the right decision, but a very dear friend reminded me that God has a plan and I need to continue to be open to His leading. She quoted John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

I determined that I could not say yes to a placement out of fear. Sarah, out of fear gave Abraham her handmaiden. I promised the Lord that if he would answer my prayer for a newborn son, who we planned to name Solomon, I would give HIM the praise and glory, and share this story so that everyone will know that He, the One and Only, is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise, compassionate and powerful, is ALIVE, hears our prayers, cares about even the tiniest details, and ANSWERS!

But I still had a lot of waiting to do... I had no idea yet if God was going to say yes.

What is something you have prayed and waited for? How have you kept your faith in the waiting time?