There are so many things I pray about every day, some for years. This particular prayer, 15 years. But, what do you do when the answer is no?
Today’s Story
Two months ago a friend reached out to me. She new a high school aged girl who had gotten pregnant and was considering putting the baby up for adoption because she wasn’t ready to be a mom. Her mom was a young mother and didn’t want that for her too. I’ve joked that I wish someone would just message me on Facebook that they had a baby for me so I was shocked to get this message.
My friend wanted to know if we would consider adopting an African American baby. I told her we would pray about it but I already knew the answer. YES. Send us any of God’s children and the answer is YES. If our life’s testimony is to love God’s people, that means ALL of God’s people. Our love knows no colors.
She told the girl about us and we were given her name and little updates over the last two months. We’ve prayed and prayed for her by name. I offered to help get in touch w services when she was ready and of course we said we would help however we could if we were to adopt. And then we waited. Ultimately, this would be a dream scenario as we cannot afford private adoption.
I’m not going to lie. I’ve done some dreaming of this possible new addition to our family. This weekend we learned that over the holiday the girl decided to have an abortion. I know this is not the ending you were hoping to read. It’s not the ending we were praying for either.
I believe that as ministers we must be transparent and not just share when God says yes. Sometimes when God says no, it means not yet. Sometimes it means he has another plan. And sometimes the answer is in the hands of another person and is out of his hands. I don’t agree with the girl’s decision but I can’t judge her. We are all born sinners and her sin, albeit different, is the same as mine.
This morning at worship practice I choked up as I was worshiping and mourning the loss of a baby I never knew. Oh, if she only knew how much we would have loved that baby. Then, I praised God for his perfect plan because we trust him. Then I prayed for her. Maybe Nick and I were brought into this situation just to do that because God knew we would commit to pray. He knew we would trust him. So, this was not our answer but I still believe it’s coming in some shape or form.
For now, I pray (and I hope you will too) that this situation will change this girl’s life and put her on the right path. One day she will mature and come to terms with her decision. Hopefully, there will be remorse and with that she will be forgiven. She is bright and has potential. I pray she figures that out and fulfills the plans God has for her.
We have to live in a manner of forgiveness and love or we live a life in bondage, anger and resentment and that, my friends, is not a life worth living. ❤️ Just because the answer is no, that doesn’t mean the story has come to an end.
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