“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
—Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)
When Grace Arrives at the Doorstep
It was late—past dinner, past bedtime, past the time when anyone wants to receive unexpected guests. But that night, the doorbell rang anyway. On the front porch stood a tired social worker with hollow eyes and a clipboard, and beside her stood a little boy—four years old, clutching a tattered stuffed lion, his eyes filled with confusion and fear.
He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.
That one moment marked the beginning of our foster care journey—not with fanfare or clarity, but with uncertainty, brokenness, and the undeniable presence of need.
We weren’t ready. Our home was prepared, but our hearts were still catching up. And in that sacred silence, God whispered a truth we would cling to again and again:
“You may feel overwhelmed. But you are not alone. My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”
The Weight of a Holy Calling
Foster care and adoption aren’t side ministries. They aren’t temporary hobbies or charity projects. They are callings—beautiful, painful, and holy.
And they come with a cost.
It’s a journey filled with ups and downs, gains and losses. There are birthday parties and trauma triggers. There are first smiles and court orders. There are moments when healing bursts through like a sunrise—and moments when it feels like darkness will never lift.
You may find yourself:
- Waking up to a child’s nightmares and sitting up through the early hours of the morning.
- Driving to yet another visitation, unsure how to emotionally prepare.
- Holding back tears in a courtroom, praying for clarity while facing uncertainty.
- Fighting for educational support, trauma-informed care, or simply someone who will listen.
You carry the weight of wounds you didn’t create, and sometimes you wonder if your love is enough.
That’s where God steps in—not with condemnation, but with compassion.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
—Matthew 11:28
Biblical Reflection: Strength in Our Surrender
The Apostle Paul, a man who endured imprisonments, shipwrecks, rejection, and trials, wrote these words:
“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul understood what many of us struggle to accept: It’s not about how strong we are—it’s about how surrendered we are.
You were never meant to carry this alone.
God didn’t call you to be a superhero. He called you to be a vessel of His love, grace, and redemptive power. And when you run out of strength, that’s exactly when His strength takes over.
Scriptures to Lean On in Difficult Times
When your heart is heavy and your spirit is weary, anchor yourself in God’s unchanging Word. These verses are life rafts in the storm:
- Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”
- Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
- 1 Peter 5:10 – “And the God of all grace… will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
- Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
- Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous… the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
These aren’t just words to memorize—they are spiritual oxygen for tired souls.
Real Talk: What This Journey Teaches Us About God
Foster care and adoption have a way of unearthing everything you thought you knew about love, parenting, patience, and faith. And it teaches us one central truth:
Love requires sacrifice. And sacrifice requires supernatural strength.
We are constantly reminded that God is the true Father, the Healer of the brokenhearted, and the Defender of the vulnerable. He models the very heart we need to emulate:
- His love is unconditional.
- His mercy is new every morning.
- His faithfulness never fails.
When you welcome a child into your home, you are stepping into God’s redemptive story—one written with love, lined with pain, and sealed with hope.
Your obedience is worship.
Your exhaustion is holy ground.
Your persistence is a reflection of His character.
Faith in Action: Four Practical Ways to Stay Anchored
Sometimes we need more than encouragement—we need practical rhythms that keep us rooted when the journey gets hard. Here are four steps to take this week:
1. Establish a Daily Grace Moment
Take five minutes at the beginning or end of each day to speak one Scripture out loud, pray one heartfelt sentence, or simply sit in silence and invite God’s presence.
2. Write a “God Did This” Journal
Track small miracles: a breakthrough in your child’s behavior, a moment of laughter, an unexpected provision. These moments become testimonies in dry seasons.
3. Create a Scripture Wall for Your Family
Let the Word of God live on your walls. Choose verses that speak to strength, healing, identity, and courage. Post them on the fridge, by the mirror, or above your child’s bed.
4. Ask for Help—Unashamedly
The enemy wants you isolated. God wants you supported. Whether it’s a church leader, friend, therapist, or fellow foster/adoptive parent—reach out. You were never meant to do this alone.
You Are Not Failing—You Are Faithful
It’s easy to believe the lie that you’re not doing enough.
But God sees every diaper changed, every tantrum calmed, every court paper signed, every bedtime prayer whispered. And He calls it worship.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people.”
—Hebrews 6:10
When you love a child who’s come from hard places, you are participating in a divine rescue mission. The results may not always be visible, but the impact is eternal.
You are sowing seeds in tears that will one day reap a harvest of joy.
A Prayer for Strength and Sustaining Grace
Father God,
Today, we bring you our tired hearts, our tear-streaked prayers, and our silent questions.
We are doing the best we can, but sometimes, Lord, it feels like we’re not enough.
Remind us, Father, that You are enough.
That Your strength fills in every gap.
That Your love heals what we cannot fix.
That Your Spirit comforts what we cannot explain.
Help us to love with patience, to serve with joy, and to walk with unwavering faith—even when the path is unclear.
Let Your grace hold us.
Let Your promises anchor us.
And let Your presence be our peace.
In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen.
Final Words of Hope
Dear foster and adoptive parent, former foster youth, church member, advocate—whoever you are reading this today—know this:
God has not abandoned you.
He sees every sacrifice.
He hears every prayer.
He honors every act of love.
He walks with you on this journey, step by step. And when your strength runs out, His grace steps in.
Let your heart rest in this truth:
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
—Zephaniah 3:17
You are seen.
You are chosen.
You are held by grace.