Thursday, June 24, 2010

Thoughts on Another Failed Court Date

I'm not going to lie - it hurts. It's really frustrating. It's infuriating. Another court date comes and goes without a positive decision. (Turns out a birth relative did show up, it just wasn't the right one. Uncle Bob came instead of Uncle Bill.) We had really hoped to get the boys home in time to start school in August, but that is no longer a possibility.

It's in situations like these that I'm so glad for the faith that has been passed down to me and that I have received through grace. Because my faith tells me that even when things don't go the way they should, there is still good in it for me. James gave us a revolutionary new thought that we should rejoice when things don't go our way, because it actually makes us better persons. Beyond that, Paul declared that "all things work together for good for those who love Him."

I've said many times that I don't believe God has a purpose for everything (ie, repeated court delays in the adoption process), but I do believe that God will find a purpose in everything. I believe that all situations can be redeemed if I am willing to allow them to be. That knowledge doesn't allow me to feel sorry for myself. I am a prisoner of hope, chained by my own belief in God's power to use anything to bring glory to Himself and accomplish His purposes in me.

E. Stanley Jones wrote that when Christ is truly sufficient for you, there is nothing that anybody can take away from you or deny you, because Christ is all you need. So until our case finally passes, and I am able to travel to bring home my boys, I will enjoy the time I have with my wife and girls and trust in my all-sufficient Savior to redeem the waiting. And even when it hurts, I will echo the words of Job: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:5).

4 comments:

Nina & Wes said...

Agreed on all counts, Matt. Thanks for sharing. Darn those stinkin' court dates.

Marie said...

I'm so sorry! Thank you for sharing your feelings and your thoughts. You all are in our prayers!!!

AaronG said...

Matt...

It takes a lot to say what you have. And my heart breaks as it sees yours has too. But of your unbroken spirit... that you and amy and the girls remain "prisoners of hope"... wow... Amen and amen.

I'm reminded of a benediction we say every week in church, it ends with this, "Know that you are loved beyond your wildest imagination."

PS. And if I could offer to make you smile just for a moment, I would break out my 4-string guitar and play some Jennifer Knapp.

Jen said...

Thanks, Matt. I was praying for encouragement and a reminder of God's faithfulness this morning because it seems that God has been silent in our process too and the waiting was starting to get to me. Your words were what I needed.