There have been many times in my life that I have prayed and prayed for peace over a decision I was having to make. I want to share one particular story with you that really changed my family's life forever.
When I was in middle school my mom had a miscarriage. That was a very hard time for our family and it was something that caused a lot of pain in all of our lives. It was a time where we sometimes found ourselves asking, "Why God?" However, we stayed close and we got through it together.
A couple years later, God started moving in my heart big time. Through a couple different circumstances the idea of adoption was put in front of me. My family had never talked about adopting, and I honestly had never really thought about it. However, the idea kept popping up in my everyday life. At the time, Steven Curtis Chapman had just released a song about seeing his first daughter for the first time in China. I began praying big time about this. I wasn't sure how my parents would react, so I prayed that God would bring PEACE into their hearts about this. When I first talked to them they were very surprised that I was bringing it up. It was somewhat random to them because like I said, we had never really talked about it. I began to explain what God had been doing in my life and told them about all of the things He had recently put in front of me pointing to adoption. After praying hard about this, I told them that I felt like our family was called to adopt from China. They said they would pray about it and that was pretty much the end of the conversation. A few weeks later, I asked my dad if they had talked about it again. He said they were still praying about it. I knew that it was somewhat scary to them because they were honestly still getting past the miscarriage. I finally confronted them one day and told them that God is giving us this amazing opportunity, and if we choose to ignore it He would move on. At that point, I think they really started praying hard about this. They began praying that God would give them PEACE about this and that they were making the right decision. A few weeks later, we started the paperwork and the journey began!
A couple years later, God started moving in my heart big time. Through a couple different circumstances the idea of adoption was put in front of me. My family had never talked about adopting, and I honestly had never really thought about it. However, the idea kept popping up in my everyday life. At the time, Steven Curtis Chapman had just released a song about seeing his first daughter for the first time in China. I began praying big time about this. I wasn't sure how my parents would react, so I prayed that God would bring PEACE into their hearts about this. When I first talked to them they were very surprised that I was bringing it up. It was somewhat random to them because like I said, we had never really talked about it. I began to explain what God had been doing in my life and told them about all of the things He had recently put in front of me pointing to adoption. After praying hard about this, I told them that I felt like our family was called to adopt from China. They said they would pray about it and that was pretty much the end of the conversation. A few weeks later, I asked my dad if they had talked about it again. He said they were still praying about it. I knew that it was somewhat scary to them because they were honestly still getting past the miscarriage. I finally confronted them one day and told them that God is giving us this amazing opportunity, and if we choose to ignore it He would move on. At that point, I think they really started praying hard about this. They began praying that God would give them PEACE about this and that they were making the right decision. A few weeks later, we started the paperwork and the journey began!
My whole family traveled to China in March of 2006 and God changed our lives forever. We adopted my precious sister, EllaKate at 11 months old. She is now a beautiful 6 year old and she is such a joy in our lives!
Well, the story doesn't end there, friends! Little did we know, God was going to keep working in our lives, and this time He spoke to my mom about going back to China. When she told us she felt like we should go back, we all were very surprised. However, we began praying for PEACE once more, and God provided it immensely! We began worrying about how we would pay for everything, but God took care of that too! He sent so many amazing and generous people in our life, and that continued to provide PEACE. In September of 2010 my parents and EK traveled back to China to bring home sweet ShayleeJoy! She has also changed our lives forever. She is the most tender-hearted little girl and we love her so much.
Well, God STILL wasn't finished! Guess where my parents are right now?
They are in China again and they are adopting my little BROTHER, Will Perry. God had to once again bring PEACE over this decision for all of us. However, He did and I'm so excited to meet my brother in a week and a half. Friends, God is so good!!! Imagine if we wouldn't have prayed for PEACE over all of these decisions. Our family may not have been blessed with 3 amazing children.
Here is a picture of the "littles", as we call them~
As Christians, we are faced with so many hard things in every aspect of our life. With hard circumstances comes hard decisions and many times those hard decisions can cause much distress and worry. However, we were not called to live a life of worry. God wants us to be at peace always, and I believe that if we are constantly praying for God's guidance and PEACE in every decision we make, we will be filled with PEACE! I also know that when we are at PEACE with a decision, we find ourselves in the center of God's perfect will. How amazing is that?
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"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not
be afraid." John 14:27
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
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Savannah
Thank you precious daughter for listening and hearing God speaking to your heart. I am SO thankful you are my daughter and we have three littles to love because of God's peace in our hearts! I pray His richest blessings on you and all the people this blog reaches.
ReplyDeleteIn His Love,
Mama
Savannah, you are so special, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful cousin to look up to you ! This story is a blessing to my heart. I am so thankful that you acted upon what God laid on your heart, great courage is so evident in your faith !
ReplyDeleteSavannah, You are such a precious child of God. As you know, our family has also walked down through the adoption journey. We never in a million years dreamed of having a precious daughter from China. God provided the leading and His perfect peace throughout the entire process. Praise the Lord for His gift of peace that we can all experience everyday!
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Sheryl,
"When we are at PEACE with a decision, we find ourselves in the center of God's perfect will." - Savannah, this was exactly what I needed to hear today! :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMany Blessings,
Rani
What an amazing story! I've briefly entertained the thought of adopting, but I've never really talked about it with my husband. I desperately want to carry and give birth to a child of my own, but maybe I could do both like your parents! So awesome! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete