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Wait.

Wait. .

Wait . . .

It’s one of my least favorite words, but one we hear often in our walk with Christ.

God is sovereign. His timing is perfect. He knows what He is doing. He has a plan. His plan is best. Trust Him.

Yes, these are the words I tell myself. These are the words I hear in godly counsel from from trusted friends and family. These are the words of the Holy Spirit as He reminds me of the scriptures. These are the words I hold on to through the wait.

Still, the wait is not easy. My flesh wants to whine, “But I want it now! Why do I have to wait? Haven’t I waited long enough?”

The process of adoption is a game of paperwork, paperwork, paperwork-wait, wait wait- paperwork- wait- paperwork, paperwork, paperwork- wait, wait, wait. And when I think of my two little girls on the other side of the world, though they live in a relatively “good” orphanage, I don’t want to wait anymore. I just want to get on a plane and bring them home.

For nearly a year we waited—sometimes patiently, sometimes not so much— for our first child’s file. We prayed, we begged, we pleaded with God to move whoever necessary to complete and upload this information. We never really doubted that she was the child God chose for us, and believed she was (still is) worth the wait, yet each week our hopes were dashed.

Then, finally, God revealed part of His plan for our family—the reason for the wait. He chose another little girl in the same “good” orphanage to join our family as well. If we had not been waiting, we never would have considered adopting two. We never would have heard our two and a half-year-old son say sweetly, “Just look at that smile,” as he studied her picture.

Now we are waiting again. We received the long awaited file and expected our official Letter of Acceptance from China a couple weeks ago. Instead, our case worker called and let us know China’s new adoption director required two more pieces of paperwork—state and Chinese consulate authenticated, of course!

The time to properly complete the paperwork, combined with the Chinese holiday this month, means at least three extra weeks between us and our girls. It will also likely push travel into the new year when we really want them home before Christmas.

My flesh won out for a little while. I definitely whined. But then the great Comforter reminded me of our recent experience. Hadn’t God taught me anything through the wait?

Yes, He did.

God is sovereign. His timing is perfect. He knows what He is doing. He has a plan. His plan is best. Trust Him.

“I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.” Psalms 130:5-6 NASB

Do the watchmen doubt that the morning will come on time? No. As they scan the horizon for the first rays of light they are confident that the sun is near. The night may seem long, but joy comes with the morning.

So as we wait again, in His word do I hope. He may or may not choose to reveal the reason for the wait this time, but I trust in Him. Our two girls are worth the wait, and waiting on Jesus is always worth the wait.

Great Wall Watch Towers along mountain ridge

One day, when they are ready, I will hold two little girls in my lap and tell them this story, because I want them to know God chose them for us. And in the future, as they learn to trust in Him, I want them to remember that Jesus is in the waiting.

What are you waiting for today?

Yes, God is sovereign. His timing is perfect. He knows what He is doing. He has a plan. His plan is best. Trust Him.

David Hays & Tony Keys 2011

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