Patience and Perseverance

Ahh... the two P's. Patience and Perseverance. Much has happened in the last few days that has brought the words (sometimes begrudgingly, okay most times if I am honest) to the forefront of our conversations.

My husband had a fantastic outing planned for us all on Saturday night. We were going to go to an old fashioned ice cream parlor  and then we were going to the drive in movie theater. We may have made a slight mistake in sharing with our oldest that we were going somewhere that night and it was a surprise. M tried to finagle the surprise out of us all day. All day. Note to self, don't tell them anything until we pull into the parking lot. Good advice for the future.

But on a more serious note, we had two conference calls regarding the future of adoption in Congo. In the natural, it looks bleak. Like the Congolese government may shut down adoptions in Congo and not let our children come home. Let's just say that I cried an ocean of tears last night. 

This is not our first time with heart ache during our adoption process. Shortly after we started in the summer of 2012, we had a brother and sister referred to us. We were overjoyed! However, neither one made it into our arms. They both died that fall from complications of Malaria and Typhoid. My heart still aches to hold them both. But I firmly believe that the day will come when we will be together, locked in a group hug with our Heavenly Father.

There is still hope that the suspension will lift and N will come home to us. It may be 6 months to a year before we see that but it could still happen. So in the meantime, what do we do? We have patience and we persevere.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We are patient because He is patient. And He lives in us. And we know that He desires for N to be here just as much, if not more. He has patience when we have no more. And all we need to do is receive what has already been given.


Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.


James 5:11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.


2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

This is where the battle rages. We are not fighting against an army with guns and tanks. We are fighting against a broken world and an enemy who wants nothing more than to stop another child from coming into a family that shares the love of Jesus relentlessly. So we stay armed with what our God has provided.


The Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.