Emotions Ebb and Flow

Greetings in the Lord!  Kim and I are new to the blogging scene, but we are excited to finally be doing it and for a very important reason too.  A question came to my mind about this whole year and the adoption process up to this point, What has been the effect on my faith?  or How would I sum up the experience in relation to the challenges we've faced and the effect on my faith?  

The Lord provided me an answer as I sat and reflected on a recent visit to the beach on Coronado Island in San Diego.  It was Tiffany's birthday, and we wanted to get there before sunset to get some family pictures.  After finishing with the pictures, we were watching the sun go down off of Point Loma and I was watching the waves, and the way the tide ebbs and flows. It is reminiscent of how it's been for us.  I think our faith has been quite strong and there has been a strong element of peace in the times of waiting, times of disappointing news and the times of nerve-wracking paper activity (i.e: documents, notarizing, etc.).  There have also been times, however, during these same activities when our emotions have ebbed and flowed. We have found ourselves asking questions like, "What have we gotten into?" or "We can't wait to get the kids, when's it going to all happen?" 

For 14 years we were able to successfully go through a very involved process for securing our visa to stay and work in the Czech Republic.  There were always twists and turns, along with new and more involved requirements to obtain a visa, but the Lord was always faithful to provide us with the items and help we needed to obtain our visas.  We know this, and we know that God can overcome every obstacle. One would think that we'd have no problem with the requirements of the adoption process in an Eastern European country knowing how it all works and God's faithfulness, yet still our emotions fluctuate. Each time as we work through the emotions of it all our faith deepens. God is our rock and the only place where stability is found.

In those times, Kim and I, and our children have had to remind one another that the Lord is known as Jehovah-jireh (God will provide).  It comes from the story of the Lord commanding Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:14).  The place was named this by Abraham after the Lord provided a ram to sacrifice in place of Isaac.  He is still known as the One who will provide. This simple truth and trust in His sovereign grace has been a foundational theme for us even when emotions and fears tend to pull us down.  This is a transferable concept to many areas of our life.  The children of Israel were called on by God to remember His provisions for them and to pass on these stories of His care to their children.  It was His way of providing hope and confidence during the journey. No matter how the situation ebbed and flowed, they could always depend on the Lord to provide because He had been faithful to provide before. 

Isa.43:2-3a

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Jesus Christ, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.