8 Prayers of Praise for the Gift of Adoption
Parenting
Audio By Carbonatix
By Amanda Idleman, Crosswalk.com
"Does adoption make everything better? No. Not even close. But at its best, it's a courageous response to an already broken story."
I read this quote online the other day, and I found that it spoke to the complexity of adoption. Is adoption beautiful, redemptive, and a gift? A resounding yes! My adoptive children are gifts that God has given me the privilege to parent. I am so grateful for our children. I cannot imagine life without them and know I am the lucky one to have the great honor of being their parent. They are 100% worth all the waiting, uncertainty, late nights up, stress—they are worth it all! Our home is full, and our hearts are blessed. There is so much joy in knowing we are a forever family.
Is adoption also born of grief, loss, and things that should never be? Yes. The weight of our kids' stories is heavy. The complexity of parenting while acknowledging their trauma, loss, and navigating the barriers that they have to overcome is challenging. Working through relationships with birth family, helping your child reconcile their loss, and so much more takes a willingness to acknowledge both the joy of adoption and the loss that is inherent in every adoption story.
In our home, we have three children through birth and three through adoption from foster care. We entered the foster care space with open arms, ready to support birth parents and love the kids who need safe families. Over the past years, we've learned so much, and the journey has only begun. One thing is sure: we've realized that none of this is easy, and the brokenness in families and the system that touches children's lives is not easily overcome.
I believe the God of all Creation has a hope-filled future for our children. The loss that led to our unique family composition does not define them. The God who heals the brokenhearted and is faithful to heal my children. I believe God is creative and can make space relationships with birth parents that allow safe connections for everyone involved, even post-adoption. God loves everyone in the adoption story.
And for me, as the adoptive Mom, I have to believe God's grace is enough to cover my shortcomings. I may not always have the right words to say, nor do I always have all the tools I need, and I often fail, but I can keep returning to the Father for wisdom, forgiveness, and strength. It is an honor to be the mother of my beautiful adoptive children, to endure with them through their losses and hurts, and to learn alongside them how to love each other well through it all.
Here are some prayers that can encourage our hearts and give thanks to the God who sees us all in the adoption triad.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Carol Yepes
1. A Prayer of Gratitude
Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
God, we give thanks for the gift of adoption. We thank you for the family you have given up to shepherd and love. We are grateful for the opportunity to know and love these precious ones who have become our sons and daughters. God, we give thanks for your healing power. For how you have made a way through the brokenness for beauty and healing to come forth. Continue to hold our family together, train, and equip us for the journey. Amen.
2. A Prayer for Healing
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
God, we thank you for being the great healer. You are faithful to care for the brokenhearted, bring healing and joy, and tend to their wounds. You see the losses in our adoption story. We thank you for your grace, which is sufficient to cover our wounds! You are a great provider, and we praise you for offering us all we need to blossom into a vibrant family unit. Cover us under the shadow of your wing. Guide our steps as parents, offer grace to birth parents, and protect our shared children. Amen.
3. A Prayer for the Hard-Fought Hallelujah
Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Father, you know that our path to permanency, to adoption, has been a hard, long, windy one! There have been sleepless nights, many shed tears, anxious prayers, frustrating interactions, delays, and uncertain days. Only by your grace have you carried us through the long season of uncertainty and advocating. We are so thankful. We raise a hard-fought Hallelujah in response to your grace to bring us where we know what forever holds. Thank you for being faithful to our family, for the many miracles that have unfolded to bring our family together, and for the grace to allow us to live without the weight of uncertainty on us. Amen.
4. A Prayer for Grace
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Father, thank you for your grace, which is sufficient for us. You work even through my weaknesses, and you can do great things through the story of our family, despite our challenges and shortcomings. Let your grace cover us as adoptive parents, cover our kids, and cover all those in the birth family. By grace, please give us the understanding, empathy, skills, and wisdom required for this remarkable parenting journey. Graciously help my child to excel. Graciously guide and protect them. Let your grace go before as a family for all the ages and stages yet to come. Amen.
5. A Prayer of Encouragement
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, help you, and uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Father, thank you for allowing us to be bold and brave as a family because you go before us! You strengthen us and uphold us when we are weak. We can be courageous because we know our family is securely protected by your right hand. We can always turn to you when we don't know where to turn. You are always faithful. Thank you for your great love for our family. We love you. Amen.
6. A Prayer for Love
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Father, we thank you for the love you have allowed to blossom in our homes. Let the love that you have gifted us hold us together as a unit when we feel the pressures of many kinds. Help our children feel and know your love! Let your love cover our sins. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be a family. To endure in love together. To grow in love for each other. To always point our children towards your love. Let your perfect love cast out any fear that wants to enter our home. Cover us under the shadow of your loving wings. Let all we do in our home be defined by your great love. Amen.
7. A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Psalm 107:1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Father, we give thanks for your steadfast love that endures forever. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the family you have blessed us with. We thank you for allowing us as parents to stand in the gap for a child who needs a forever family. Thanksgiving is the song of our hearts! We are in awe of the beautiful children you have blessed us to parent. We thank you for your unique stories and traits. We celebrate who they are and who they are becoming. We honor the beauty and worthiness of love inherent in every child. You see our kids and their needs. You are faithful to provide! Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done. Amen.
8. A Prayer for Wisdom
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Father, adoption is a special parenting road that comes with very unique challenges and joys. We ask as adoptive parents for your wisdom. Guide us as we do our best to help our children heal, to answer their questions well, and shepherd their hearts with love. Open the right doors for the support, mentors, friends, counselors, pastors, teachers, and more that they need. Guide our steps as a family. More than anything, we need you as we grow together in love in our home. Amen.
