“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
A Story of Love Planted in Hard Soil
When Sarah and Michael brought home their foster son, Isaiah, he was six years old and had already lived in four different homes. He barely spoke, avoided eye contact, and flinched at every loud noise. He came with a tiny suitcase and a guarded heart. For months, bedtime was a battle. Hugs were foreign. Trust was shaky. But every night, without fail, Sarah sat by his bed and whispered a prayer over him: “Lord, let Your love be louder than the pain. Let Your truth become his truth.”
One night, Isaiah—eyes still wide with uncertainty—asked, “Is Jesus really good even when people are bad?” Sarah’s heart ached. She took his hand gently and said, “Yes, baby. Jesus is always good. And He never leaves.”
That was the beginning. Not of perfection, but of planting. And planting, as all gardeners know, is slow work.
Raising Children in Faith When the Soil Is Wounded
Parenting through adoption or foster care is not a simple storybook journey. It’s layered with brokenness, trauma, waiting, and redemption. It asks us to step into pain we didn’t cause, and love with a depth we didn’t know we had. As believers, it also calls us to raise these precious children in the knowledge of Christ—sometimes in soil that has been hardened by neglect, fear, and grief.
But here’s the promise: God is not asking us to plant in vain.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” – Isaiah 40:8
Scripture has power—not just to instruct, but to heal. When we raise children in faith, we’re not just giving them information; we’re inviting them into transformation. We’re handing them the one thing no foster care system or trauma can erase: the eternal, unshakable truth of who God is and who they are in Him.
Faith Isn’t Taught, It’s Caught
One of the most important things to remember is that children watch far more than they listen. In adoptive families, especially, trust must be lived before it is believed. When they see us pray during a hard moment, worship through tears, speak words of life when we’re exhausted—they catch faith. When we show grace to their outbursts, forgive them freely, and remind them (again and again) that they are loved, they start to believe grace is real.
It’s not about having the perfect morning devotion or the most eloquent family prayers. It’s about consistency. Authenticity. Love that doesn’t flinch or run away.
Biblical Encouragement: God Parents Through You
Throughout Scripture, we see the heart of the Father revealed in stories of adoption and care. Moses was adopted into Pharaoh’s household. Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai. Mephibosheth, though broken and forgotten, was invited to eat at King David’s table. And each of us, through Christ, has been adopted into the family of God (Ephesians 1:5).
“God sets the lonely in families…” – Psalm 68:6
When you love a child from hard places, you are doing holy work. You are participating in the gospel itself—bringing orphans into family, turning mourning into joy, speaking identity into confusion, and modeling the steadfast love of the Father.
But don’t forget: God is not just watching you do this. He is doing it through you. He is the ultimate parent. He is the healer, the redeemer, the One who whispers hope into the quiet places of a child’s soul.
You are not alone.
Practical Steps to Nurture Faith in Your Adoptive Family
Here are a few simple but impactful ways to plant seeds of faith, even in challenging soil:
1. Create Practice of Connection with Scripture
Bedtime prayers. Morning blessings. Scripture on lunch notes. Worship music while doing chores. Keep it natural, but intentional. The Word becomes life when it weaves into the ordinary.
2. Speak Identity Over Trauma
Remind your child often of who they are in Christ: beloved, chosen, redeemed, safe. Especially when behavior spirals, anchor their worth in God’s truth, not their actions.
3. Share Stories of Faith
Let them hear your story. Share when God comforted you in sorrow or answered a prayer. And tell Bible stories through the lens of love, rescue, and hope.
4. Be Honest and Real
Kids from hard places can sniff out fake faith. Be real about your struggles and show how you go to God in them. Faith is not perfection—it’s dependence.
5. Invite the Church Family In
Find a supportive faith community that values and understands the adoption journey. Let your children be surrounded by spiritual aunties, uncles, and grandparents who echo your faith.
When You Feel Like You’re Failing
There will be days when all your seeds seem to lie dormant. When meltdowns overshadow moments. When you question if any of it is making a difference. On those days, remember:
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
You are not failing. You are sowing. And God is watering.
He sees the midnight prayers. The weary hugs. The verses whispered in trembling faith. And He is faithful to complete the work He began in you—and in your child (Philippians 1:6).
Word of Hope
Adoption mirrors the gospel not because it’s easy, but because it’s costly love. And when you raise a child in faith, especially one who has known rejection or pain, you are offering them something eternal. You’re not just raising them—you’re raising them up.
So hold tight to Jesus. Keep planting. Keep praying. Keep believing that God can heal, restore, and raise up mighty sons and daughters who know they are loved—by you, and by Him.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for entrusting me with the sacred calling of parenting this child. When the road feels long and the progress feels slow, remind me that You are the Gardener of hearts. Help me to love with Your strength, teach with Your truth, and lead with Your grace. I surrender every moment, every setback, and every victory to You. May Your Word take root in our home and grow into a legacy of faith that reaches generations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If this devotional encouraged you today, consider sharing it with another parent, foster family, or friend who may need a reminder that God is near, and His love is never failing. You’re not just raising a child. You’re raising up a testimony of God’s faithfulness.