This is one of those posts that has been in brewing in my heart since March–and finally…I felt today was the time to finally write it.
For some of you who read this–who may not be in a place in your life where you feel you are consistently saying yes to Jesus–this post may seem crazy to you. For others–you may remember a time in your life where God asked you to do something radical–and as soon as you said yes, hard things seemed to come your way. And for others–constant spiritual warfare seems to just be the story of your life as you radically follow Him where ever you are.
James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.”
As sure as God is REAL. So is the enemy–although some of us would like to not think about him. There is a quote in the movie Usual Suspects on satan’s ploy that is so true: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world that he doesn’t exist.”
And if we believe or act like he doesn’t exist–then…by golly, that is one very scary place to be. Right where he would want us. Complacent…living for ourselves…not a threat to satan or his schemes. ONE very scary place to be.
Do you think it’s any coincidence that EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we have said yes to something crazy the Lord asked us to do–that it seemed everything in our lives started to go wrong??? Do you also think it’s a coincidence that EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. we perservered–and the LORD was glorified as we STOOD OUR GROUND and continued on the calling He put before us???
The battle is real. And it’s NOT with flesh and blood.
And get this…
It has ALREADY been won!
I could go on and on about things that happened when I followed the Lord to East Asia in my twenties. The embassy bombing had occurred and we weren’t the most favored nationality on the streets. I remember standing under a tall building one night, and I felt a hand on the small of my back step me forward. Seconds later a large glass water pitcher fell behind me. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe it was coincidence. But I was following the Lord, and my shield of faith protected me. And the hand on the small of my back? Not sure who or what that was…maybe that was coincidence too. I have countless other stories that would blow your mind–but the battle is REAL.
When we began our adoption for Isaac–things suddenly were put on hold. NOW–one thing I have quickly learned…is what the Lord is passionate about–satan hates. The Lord LOVES orphans and He loves even more seeing them become SONS and DAUGHTERS. SO, I’ll go ahead and tell you–if you plan to adopt…put that seatbelt on…
Just as we were about to finish our application almost two years ago, one of our children was diagnosed with MRSA. We had phone calls with the CDC–more ER visits than I could count and pediatric dermotologist specialists working side-by-side with Children’s to try and get our little one well. Oh the TEARS of our sweet child. Mind you–you can’t internationally adopt if you have a child with a communicable disease (or at least it puts a major mountain in your way). We asked the world of friends and family around us to PRAY for healing–and for God to make a way for what we knew in our hearts He was calling us to do.
Paul reminds us the way we are to fight this battle is NOT TO QUIT…
NOT TO DO MORE…
NOT TO WORRY…
but INSTEAD to PRAY.
We had our nearest and dearest praying for our sweet child. We went to a long awaited appointment to go over the “treatment plan”. In the middle of the appointment, the doctor got paged–left the room. We sat. We waited. We waited more. I became frustrated sitting there with my little one and husband–and then the doctor came in and asked us to PLEASE SIT DOWN–Children’s had paged her when they tried to fax our records. All of the MRSA infections were currently healing or gone at the time–but they would come and go quite quickly week by week.
The doctor took a breath and began explaining. She said they were profusely sorry but our little one did NOT have MRSA. In fact, they got tests mixed up–a doctor misread–and she never had it. I ran to my sweet one to show the most recent scars (that are still there by the way) and this “best of the best” pediatric dermatologist said it was just eczema that had maybe gotten infected or something. We had spent weeks in and out of doctors–MRSA bumps popping up quickly–having to have them drained–it was AWFUL. But after that day–we NEVER saw another one again. The doctor kept apologizing–not sure how this could have happened…but I smiled and explained how we were a crazy family who believed in PRAYER and how we had so many praying for our sweet one’s healing…
I knew exactly what the battle was we were fighting. I was so frustrated at the realization of it–but so thankful we have a Redeemer who fights for us. I stayed up late that night filling our EVERY last bit of our application I had been holding on to…making sure EVERY “i” was dotted and every “t” was crossed. I was not going to lose another moment. And the next morning, I told the enemy he was NOT going to stop us or discourage us–we were following the Lord–and we were trusting HIM to go before us. {If there had been a man hiding in that USPS dropbox he would have been humored to hear me drop in that envelope saying, “TAKE THAT!” Momma was determined now–and nothing was getting in her way of a little boy she was sure her family was to bring home!} AND our process officially began to bring home our sweet boy.
You’d THINK the enemy would realize we were on to him…that we totally see through his attempted curve balls–and we actually say when we see them now, “Oh! It looks like we must be on the right track!” And this last adoption beginning as been no exception.
In just the last couple of months…I could GO ON and ON. It’s quite unbelievable I must say…but I will NOT BE MOVED.
We’ve had financial hits…it was cold when we felt the Lord telling us to step forward–we had to buy a new heater. BAHM. It warms up–we have to get our a/c fixed. DOUBLE BAHM. The dryer breaks. FOR REAL?? A ticket on the way to the doctor’s office. OKAY…maybe that one was my fault;) And then our most precious gifts…our children. The enemy likes to hit softly at first–and then hit where it hurts. I WILL NOT BE MOVED.
Last month while watching my kids play someone came by in their car and didn’t see me and tried to lure one of them to him. By this time I was sick of the enemy trying to discourage…and momma bear came running to protect her cubs and scare him away. He raced away with his back tag covered up–and my first thoughts were this:
How can I bring home another girl to our sick world? How can we protect more children? I think we have enough on our plates. I want to go to just settle with what is on my plate now and I don’t want to fight anymore.
What a minute? Did I just think that???
Some of you reading–may be RIGHT there with me thinking, “Well, you kinda do have a lot on your plate. You might be on to something. Don’t you think some times when lots of hard things start happening–then maybe it just means it’s not the right time???”
We are not called to back away…to chicken out…or lay low–but to TAKE A STAND.
And to stand firm.
And after we have endured the hard parts of the enemies schemes…to simply STAND.
Check this out from Ephesians 6:10-20 (bold is mine–what do you see OVER and OVER Paul telling us to DO???)…
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
And in the end–we are to be DRIVEN to prayer. FOR our calling…and FOR others following theirs.
THE absolute GREATEST thing YOU can do for others who are radically saying YES to Jesus to something in their lives is to PRAY for them. We are NOT to fight these battles alone–but TOGETHER. {And let them KNOW you are praying for them. It will encourage them…and press them closer to Christ–and you have NO idea how much your reminding them you are praying for them means to them! When I get to heaven, I will have lots of hugs to give out to so many of you sweet sisters in Christ who have prayed for us! I love you all who have carried us through prayer and who have run this course WITH us!}
We are called to be prepared–to know hard things WILL come our way…
To STAND through the battle
And when the battle is over…to continue to STAND firm.
Let me also remind you–that the enemy we fight is NOT flesh and blood. Think of those precious orphans in Sudan–the LRA is not the enemy {although some times our first response is to be ANGRY at the person being used to cause the pain}…UNTIL you remember that most of the LRA are orphans themselves…who were deceived…hurt…traumatized themselves…who we need to pray for. The battle is NOT with flesh and blood although the enemy may use flesh and blood for his schemes–but our mission is to love the people (many times hating the actions they are being driven to do by the enemy) and to fight against the one they are serving. WE DO THIS THROUGH PRAYER.
I recently heard a pastor preach on spiritual warfare–and he said it so well, “The way we are to fight this battle is NOT to do more–but to pray more. It’s a battle of LOVE not HATE. It’s a battle of FAITH not FEAR.”
We will not give up. We will stand FIRM in our calling. And we invite you to stand WITH us. Please keep our family in your prayers as we persue His will for our lives in adopting another child. And because we are in this together–if others can also pray for you–please let us all know HOW we can pray with you right now.
The battle is real–and while you may be inclined to lay low so you don’t have to fight back–there is nothing more dangerous or empty than choosing not to fight on the front lines by following Jesus. We have nothing to fear–for He who goes before us has already won. And no matter how alone we may feel…we are NOT alone. We are in this together–with the belt of TRUTH, the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, with feet of READINESS, with shields of FAITH, helmets of SALVATION and the sword of the Spirit which is the WORD of God. We must DAILY get geared up–and as we follow Jesus…be encouraged when warfare comes our way knowing that we are in HIS game and living out faith and deeds hand in hand…so when that day comes–we might humbly hope that He just might look at us and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
I’m excited to live this life for Him…to take a STAND and stand firm…and pumped to have many of you on it with me.
by admin
Simply irresistible!
I was hoping you would post a few pics. They are so cute! We had such a great time and really appreciate your hospitality. And it is always so good to be united with people who share your heart for adoption and God’s eternal plan for His children. And the cupcakes were delicious, too! Praying for God’s direction and peace for these next steps for you all! With love, the Smiths