Patience in the Process – Leaning on God When the Adoption Journey Takes Time

 

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
—Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

The room was small and quiet. A row of stiff chairs lined the wall. A ticking clock echoed louder than it should have. A mother sat holding a framed photo of the child she hoped would one day call her “Mom.” Weeks had turned into months, and months into years. Paperwork, home studies, court delays—everything moved so slowly, and yet her heart raced every time the phone rang.

One afternoon, a friend asked her, “How do you keep going when you don’t even know if it’ll ever happen?” She smiled through misty eyes and said, “Because I know God’s promises don’t expire. If He started this journey, He’ll finish it. Until then, I wait… but I don’t wait alone.”

For every foster or adoptive parent, waiting is a tender and often painful part of the process. It’s not just about time passing; it’s about the questions that rise in the silence: Did I hear God right? Is He still working? Can I keep hoping when the door feels closed?

And yet, even in the waiting, God is near.

In Scripture, waiting is not wasted. Over and over, God shows us that patience is not a punishment—it’s a process that builds something eternal in us. Take Abraham and Sarah, who waited decades for their promised child. Or Hannah, who cried out year after year for a son. Or Joseph, who dreamed big but found himself stuck in prison before the dream came true.

Every one of them had a promise from God, and every one of them had to wait longer than they hoped. But not one of them was abandoned in the waiting.

Psalm 27:14 is both a command and a comfort:
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

The repetition is not by accident. God knows that when we wait, our hearts can grow weak. Hope can feel fragile. Faith can falter. But He also knows that if we wait for Him, we don’t wait in vain.

Because when we wait for God, we’re not just waiting for paperwork to move or systems to change or decisions to be made. We’re waiting with God—leaning into His presence, clinging to His Word, trusting in His faithfulness even when the outcome is still unseen.

Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

This kind of hope isn’t passive. It’s an active, gritty, soul-deep trust that God is doing more than we can see.

Think of bamboo. For the first five years of its life, there’s almost no visible growth above ground. It can seem like nothing is happening. But under the soil, an intricate root system is developing—one that can support the bamboo’s rapid growth later. In its sixth year, it can shoot up to 90 feet in just six weeks.

In the same way, our waiting seasons are often where God is doing His deepest work—in us and in our children. He’s forming roots: of faith, love, character, and healing.

If you’re in a long court battle…
If you’ve been matched with a child but the process keeps stalling…
If you’re fostering with no idea if adoption will even happen…
Know this: God is not idle. He is investing. In you. In your family. In the future He has already seen.

1. Anchor Your Heart in God’s Word.
   Scripture is your lifeline in the waiting. Find promises to cling to. Speak them aloud. Write them on sticky notes. Let them become the anthem of your soul.
   
2. Keep a Prayer Journal.
   Write down your prayers, your fears, your dreams. As time goes on, look back and see how God has answered—sometimes in surprising ways. This will build your faith and remind you of His faithfulness.
   
3. Connect with Others in the Journey.
   Isolation intensifies discouragement. Find a community—other foster or adoptive parents, a church group, an online forum—where you can share, pray, and encourage one another. You are not meant to carry this alone.
   
4. Celebrate the Small Victories.
   Maybe the adoption isn’t finalized yet, but the child called you “Mom” for the first time. Maybe the caseworker gave you a positive update. Maybe today, you simply got through without giving up. Celebrate that. Every step matters.
   
5. Surrender the Timeline.
   God’s timing is never late, though it often stretches our faith. Surrendering the timeline doesn’t mean giving up—it means trusting the One who sees the whole picture. It means trading anxiety for peace, control for confidence in Him.
   

Dear friend, if your heart is weary, know this: God sees every tear, every delay, every moment you’ve said yes even when it’s hard. He honors your patience. He strengthens your perseverance. He holds your family—both the one you have now and the one He’s still forming.

The same God who places the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) is the One who holds your hand in the waiting. His grace is sufficient. His presence is your refuge. And His love is the unshakable foundation of every adoption story.

Don’t let the silence convince you He’s not working. He’s building something beautiful—one prayer, one day, one act of love at a time.

Father God,
You are the God who sees, who knows, who never forgets a promise. You understand the ache of waiting, the burden of uncertainty, and the weight of unanswered prayers. I lift up every foster and adoptive parent reading this today—every heart that longs to love, to protect, to belong.

Give them supernatural patience. Wrap them in peace. Remind them that You are not only present, but active—even when nothing seems to change. Grow their roots deep in You. Let hope rise again. Let their faith be strengthened.

And when the day of fulfillment comes, may they look back and say, “God was with me every step.”

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.