The adoption process and the word smooth are most often found together in prayer requests but rarely in real life.

If you sit in any of Lifeline’s adoption informational meetings, you will hear Dave Wood or another staff member confidently say that everyone’s process hits a roadblock at some point. Some roadblocks are more severe than others; some are longer than others; some resolve; some lead to a different road altogether. But, every family endures some kind of bump at some point in the process. What we do with those bumps is up to us and can make a world of difference in our personal lives as we prepare for the intense journey that is before us.

When we look at the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-45, we can see that he endured much hardship.

There were many times when people were responsible for Joseph’s predicaments; his own brothers sold him, and a woman made up a complete lie! But only Joseph was responsible for his attitude and the way that he reacted to each circumstance. Furthermore, Joseph maintained that God was ultimately responsible for Joseph’s difficulties and used them for His ultimate glory and for the good of His people (Gen. 45:5-8). We read throughout these chapters that God was with Joseph. God’s presence never wavered although Joseph could have easily thought that he had been abandoned. He had no idea what God’s ultimate plan for his life included and the greatness that would unfold.

The adoption process is challenging and bumps, crashes, and roadblocks will happen.

We can choose to become bitter and angry or we can dig deep into the character of God and trust His sovereignty. That’s not to say that we sit idly by; situations may require our action, forgiveness, or even repentance. But, the attitude with which we face adversity can prepare us spiritually for the journey ahead by revealing our need for God and our dependence upon His sovereign hand.

Jennifer Phillips experienced much heartache when she and her new daughter, Lucy, were separated by continents from the rest of their family.

As they waited for immigration details to be worked out for Lucy’s American citizenship and, ultimately, her United States passport, Jennifer and Lucy had no idea when they would be reunited with the rest of the family. The ordeal was trying on everyone involved, but Jennifer explains in her book, Bringing Lucy Home, that this trial met a need far greater than she could imagine.

“This trial was the pain that was chosen for us, and Lucy and I were not going to get on that plane because God did not want us on that plane, not that day. A bigger purpose was being served that we couldn’t see, and even though it was painfully hard, submission was key. God chose to give us a stage on which to display not the strength of our faith, but the splendor of His glory. It was not the path we would have chosen, and we would have given anything to make things different, but we could submit because we trusted Him and His unchanging character.

By the way, sometimes, by not meeting our felt need, God actually meets our spiritual need. I thought I needed a passport; God knew I needed to be broken. He knew I needed to be strengthened in my dependence on Him, in my ability to trust beyond what I could see. Even though the circumstances were painful, our God was and is in control, and that reassurance kept me walking on that rocky path instead of deserting it altogether.” (p. 95)

Jennifer’s book details her family’s story to adopt sweet Lucy and the enormous political roadblocks that arose in the way of bringing Lucy to her family’s home in Australia. You can purchase a copy on Amazon HERE.