Keep The Faith

Written by Kristin Orphan,

FHF Founder and Director

kristin@finallyhomefoundation.net

I recently wrote a devotional about the many hardships that the apostle Paul experienced as a result of his obedience to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He was beaten many times, jailed, ostracized, stoned, shipwrecked, cold and hungry just to name a few of his challenges.  He also alludes to a “thorn in the flesh” that some have suggested was a chronic illness and that he repeatedly asked God to remove, with no avail.  Even in the midst of all of these trials and unanswered prayers, he was confident that he was doing what God had commanded him to do.  You can read more about it in 2 Corinthians chapter 11.

Reading through his list of hardships caused me to consider my own false thoughts regarding God’s will.  I believe that we often look at results and perceived success to prove that we are on the right track, even knowing that the Christian life is full of paradoxes. (See Luke 17:33, Mark 10:44). It is no different with the call to fostering and adopting children who have experienced trauma.  The paradox we often find is that when we provide a healthy and loving home for abused children, it is then that they begin to feel safe enough to act out their emotional distress.  Their behavior gets much worse before it improves and the people they feel the most acceptance from, get the lion’s share of their anger.  The further in, the more backwards and upside down everything begins to feel.  Perhaps the most difficult in all of this is that even when given a chance, some children never heal this side of heaven.

For these reasons and many more, it is unwise to judge one’s calling based on outward results or circumstances.  A friend put it best when she said, “My son may very well end up in jail, but he will be in jail with a family on the outside who loves him.”  We don’t know what paths are children will choose or how long the road to healing will be.  There is no perfect prescription or one size fits all solution for the complex issues orphans face. But, when each individual hears God’s voice and says, “Yes” to that which he has asked, then we can say as Paul did, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:17.