Hearing God Say "No"

I always leave Ann Voskamp's blog blessed- today is no different. She writes today on receiving a "no" from God. You can read her full post here:

What to Do When You're Told "No"

She writes this"

"Instead the tears would be the kind we shed when we see how God can transform even a painful “no” into a glorious “YES!”

It’s a divine mystery: When we say and hear “no” freely, we give God room to work, to amaze us, to give us back to each other again.

And even when love says “no” along the way, it always leads us to a greater “yes” in the end."

I immediately think of times that God has said "no" in my life. I have three beautiful children here and I have 2 in heaven. I have lost children 2 times to miscarriage. The first was between Caleb and Sophie and the 2nd was just one year ago. At the time, I didn't understand "why". And maybe I still don't, but I do look back now with a different perspective. God said "no" to both of those pregnancies. Sophie was conceived shortly after my first miscarriage. Sophie- her beautiful and precious life fills everyday with joy. I simply couldn't imagine this life without her in it. She was and is the very beautiful "yes" after a painful "no". 

 Shortly after we lost our 2nd baby to miscarriage we made the decision to adopt. We felt strongly about adoption and planned to do so "one day". However going through another miscarriage and even the questions of another safe pregnancy for me brought the call to adopt to the forefront and helped us to realize the time was "now".  We said "yes" to God's call in our life to adopt and are already experiencing him and his glorious "yes" after another painful "no". 

When our children are home and this process over, I assume I will have an even greater appreciation and praise for the "no" we experienced last year- in the same way I praise God for the 1st "no" and our amazing daughter born 10 months later. 

Trusting God in each "no" for an even greater "yes."

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20

February Wait List Number

We just received our February wait list numbers from our adoption agency and we moved 6 spaces on the list! We are now at number 64!! 

Grace

Levi broke his leg yesterday. We were at a trampoline park and he came down on the strip of somewhat cushioned space between trampolines. He came down and apparently twisted and broke his tibia completely through. I lay next to him last night praying over his broken body. Even as I prayed I felt hope and confidence that in approximately 6 weeks he will be walking and running around our house again. I thought of his young and healthy bones and that even now they are stitching themselves back together, they will mend and harden and be as good as if this break had not even happened. How amazing our God is. He creates our bodies in such a way that they heal themselves. A million microscopic parts work together to being wholeness and healing to what is broken without our initiative  or urging. His works are wonderful and leave me in awe.

As I thought on this unfathomable reality I thought of the deeper spiritual truth behind this and most of our lives.

In all things there is grace.

When God made this world his perfect design did not include sickness, death, and broken bodies. But as a result of sin this world is tainted and all things are impacted by sin- creation itself is indeed fallen.

Yet, our bodies stitch themselves back together.

How is this? God gives grace. God infuses grace into our brokenness. Pain, death, and broken bodies are due to our fallen world. Before the fall there was no need for bodies that healed themselves… there was no pain, sickness, or death. Did God make the human body prepared for what he knew was coming? Did he change our bodies to be able to handle all that he knew was coming in the way of pain, sickness, and broken bones? Either way- God's hand of grace is in every body that overcomes disease and brokenness.

As we adjust to this new normal in our house- with a three year old bound to the couch or bed- I am reminded of grace. Bright, clear, grace. God's hand of grace is in even this.

It is a broken bone and not something worse.
It was a clean break and expected to heal fine.
This inconvenience is just that- an inconvenience. Our child is not terminal. It could be so, so much worse.
It is for a time. There will be an end to this.

I am reminded of grace when I think of his bones stitching themselves together-  evidence of God's creative and grace-filled design.

As we wait for our new children to be brought into our family I remind myself of his grace is in all things. He infuses grace in this waiting. As we wait, as we attempt to fund this adoption, as we walk through future paperwork, as we long for our children, as we wonder how they are, he is there and he gives GRACE. He gives grace that is sufficient. He gives blessing that is undeserved. Grace fills all things. When we choose to see his grace we can not only persevere but we can praise.