I’ve been asked this question a handful of times and it’s a great, intriguing question.
Before answering that question, I have considered the other question people have asked me: was I called to children’s ministry? My answer to that question is, I did not sense God’s calling before I started the job, but after I was already in it. I know many who have felt a definite, specific call to ministry or the mission field whether it was a significant moment in college, or confirmed by wise mentors and friends, or following in the footsteps of family. In my case with children’s ministry, I stepped into it actually not wanting it, but God called me to be faithful and in that obedience there has been joy and what I would consider a calling to this vocation for the past 10 years. I think there can be various seasons in life and vocational callings can change, but there are certain callings as followers of Jesus that never change.
We are to as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
We are often called to suffer for Jesus, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
As followers of Jesus, we are all called to the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Yet, what this looks like for each person may be different. It might be overseas or it may be here in the States. I think many often say, “I don’t think God has called me overseas,” but what if the question was, “Has God called me to stay?” Wherever each of us are, we are all called to share Jesus in the places God has us.
I think the same could be similar for adoption. I don’t think everyone is called to adopt a child, bringing them into their home, but I think we are all called to care for children in need as it says in James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Just this morning Brian and I were watching our kids playing at the park and I remarked how great our family is and that it would be so easy to just keep it this way. I often think we are crazy for pursuing adoption. It’s not easy. It is a sacrifice. I don’t know if we have it in us, but I will always remember Brian saying early on in this process, “I don’t think we are called to comfort or to what’s easy.” We don’t have it in us, but we do have an amazing Savior with us.
I wrestled with whether God was calling me to be overseas after college, but it didn’t seem like that was what God had for me. I’m beginning to see He is bringing the mission field into our home. We have two children who are in desperate need of the Gospel and there is another who also needs Christ’s love and saving faith.
1 Cor. 7: 17 says, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” We each have our own various, different callings, but I encourage you to see how God has called you to children in need, whether it’s becoming a respite family, supporting adoptive families financially, encouraging a family with your prayers, bringing a meal over or donating items to a foster family, or even serving in your church’s children’s ministry.
So, were we called to adoption? My answer might be similar to how I was called to children’s ministry. We’re stepping out in faith and obedience and trusting we have been called to it.
I love that the greatest in the kingdom are children, as Jesus says to his disciples, “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18: 2-4).
Let’s pray for children, serve children, foster children, adopt children, become like children. To this we have been called.