Counting on God

Last night I opened up my email and found that a blog that I recently started following had a new post on it. I added this blog because the family is in the process of adopting from Bulgaria and is using the same agency as us. They are currently waiting for a referral. As I started reading, what I read made my stomach drop. This family started this process in June of 2009 with their application and had their dossier registered with Bulgaria in 2010. Now they've found out that it will be 2012 before they receive a referral. That's two and a half to three years after initiating the process.


Of course, in true Courtney fashion I went into full on panic mode. Oh my goodness! What if it takes 3 years for everyone? What if it never speeds up? The "what ifs" where flying like nobody's business. And then I opened my nightly devotional, and it happened to be on trusting in God's timing. I don't think that was a coincidence. I took a deep breath and thought about what I already knew. I knew when we started that this process could take 2-3 years. Our caseworker has said that she really hopes it speeds up, but she wants us to be prepared to wait. I think a lot of  families go through the, "Oh it will be faster for us" stage. And with all the improvements happening in Bulgaria, I certainly hope and pray it is faster for us, but the truth is there are a lot of families waiting for referrals, and things are a little backed up. The other thing I knew (and I still know) is that very little of this is in my hands. And that's really a good thing because I have a tendency to try to make things happen in my own timing instead of God's. But this time there is really no way for me to do that. I have been forced to completely and totally rely on God. Not so easy for this Type A personality. One of my favorite praise and worship songs is "Counting on God", and I truly am counting on Him to see us through this whole crazy adoption journey.


I will be praying for this family and all the other families as they wait. I will pray that the process as a whole does speed up and that children begin receiving referrals much more quickly (there are approximately 10,000 orphans waiting for homes in Bulgaria . . . yes I meant to put 10,000). I will pray for our own family to have patience and to fully rely on God throughout this walk of faith. I will pray that our child will be protected and loved wherever she is. And through it all I will remember to enjoy the moment, and not to get caught up in too many "what ifs".

I apologize for all the font weirdness below. I have no idea what's going on or why it is showing up in all caps, bold, etc. I promise I'm not shouting at anyone :)

Isaiah 65:24 (New King James Version)

²⁴ “ It shall come to pass
      That before they call, I will answer;
      And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 55:9-11 (New King James Version)

⁹ “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
      So are My ways higher than your ways,
      And My thoughts than your thoughts.
       ¹⁰ “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
      And do not return there,
      But water the earth,
      And make it bring forth and bud,
      That it may give seed to the sower
      And bread to the eater,
       ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
      It shall not return to Me void,
      But it shall accomplish what I please,
      And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New King James Version)

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Habakkuk 2:3 (New King James Version)

³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
      But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
      Though it tarries, wait for it;
      Because it will surely come,
      It will not tarry.