There are many ups and downs in adopting children. We went through times of total frustration and disappointment when our sons rebelled and willfully disobeyed. Many times, we felt as though we had no hope, and we poured out our emotions to God in prayer and tears.

The sense of hopelessness can be compounded if our children have physical or mental challenges as well. We feel like we are swimming against the tide as we try time and again to help them master these problems. This is particularly true of children who have been physically and emotionally abused prior to their adoption.

At the end of the day, we need to remind ourselves that our children have been entrusted to us for a limited time. Only the Heavenly Father can truly change any of us. So, our hope in adoption is not based on our own abilities (or even disabilities). Each of the three persons of the Trinity is active in our adoption.

The Heavenly Father is active in the process of both choosing us and also giving us His name. Just as adoptive parents go through the process of choosing their prospective children, so the Father has chosen us (and them) before the foundation of the world to show how great His grace is toward us. He has also named us after Himself, just as one of the joys of adopting is giving names to our adopted children.

Jesus is active in adoption by calling us to Himself and providing a model of the character to which we are to be conformed. He demonstrates grace and mercy to those who least deserve it, and then asks us to show that same grace to those around us, especially those of our own family. When we blow it (and who does not?), we are invited to come back to His table of hope and be reminded that He is the one who provided the means of our redemption and adoption.

The Holy Spirit actively serves as the guarantee of our adoption. The free gift of Him indwelling us also guarantees our inheritance to come. That inheritance is not based on our current performance but on our willingness to surrender our dreams, hopes, and desires to Him. Our children must learn to face their challenges with God’s help in order to experience the hope that they desperately desire in life. The Holy Spirit is the One who makes our prayers to the Father effective.

The Holy Spirit gives us, as adoptive parents, hope in rearing our children. We realize that they are not ultimately accountable to us, but rather accountable to the One who loved them enough to die for them. Reminding ourselves of this truth gives us great hope even when we are going through the most difficult of circumstances. Prayer is the link that makes this all possible. I offer this acronym to you to help you HOPE:

H – Hold

O – Onto

P – Prayer

E – Everyday

Please feel free to respond to this blog and share your experiences with hope. What has helped you?