Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled

 For the last few days, 

this has been my go-to phrase of encouragement and strength.

Yes, I talk to myself.

"Do not let your heart be troubled."

"Do not let your heart be troubled."

"Do not let your heart be troubled."

 My heart's been troubled...

~ ~ ~

We met with our church council seven weeks ago.

We joyfully shared our call to adopt,

and asked them to prayerfully consider how church could help.

We were given the okay to ask individual church families for support and to use the church mailboxes to do so. We were also told we could communicate and update through the church newsletter. For this we are grateful.

We have used the mailboxes and the newsletter. 

   This week,

we learned that our church council decided 

not to financially support the adoption of our son.

Apparently, this had been decided weeks ago,

but not communicated to us until now.

Ouch.

I'm not going to pretend that this doesn't hurt--it hurts a lot.

I'd rather not share news that is

discouraging and disappointing.

But this is part of the journey that I've committed to share.

It's a faith journey that is teaching us far more than we ever imagined. 

And for some reason, 

this disappointment is part of God's plan.

 It reminds me of the wise words

shared with me months ago by an 

adoption experienced friend,

"God will provide, but maybe not in the ways you'd expect."

Yes, we had hoped and prayed for financial assistance from our church,

 but God has different plans.

Perfect plans.

We have seen Him at work

 in the hearts of many individuals,

within our family and our church family,
to give generously and sacrificially.

We are almost halfway there,

praise the Lord!

And

THANK YOU!

We really, really, thank you.

We are blessed and encouraged by the gifts you have given,

the prayers you have prayed,

and the words you have written.

You are a part of God's provision,
part of His plan.

"The Lord has done great things for us, 

and we are filled with joy."

~Psalm 126:3

Joy,  knowing that God is sovereign over every detail and every dollar.

Joy,  knowing that God loves this little boy more than we can even imagine.

Joy,  knowing that God has the perfect plan to bring him home.

Discouragements and disappointments may come,

but bitterness will not be part of our journey.

"See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God

and that no root of bitterness springs up,

causing trouble and by it, defiling many." 

~Hebrews 12:15 

I will not let my heart be troubled by this anymore.

For I know where our help comes from...

 "I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, 
the maker of heaven and earth."

~Psalm 121:1