Even When You Feel God Is Not There
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39 NLT
It seemed that every obstacle possible presented itself.
I knew from the moment I saw her she was meant to be our daughter. With everything in my soul, I believed God’s plan was to unite us as a family.
But why, then, did these horrible things keep happening?
Why were we rejected and faced with the loss of the daughter I was sure was ours? Why would God give me such a deep love only to lose her? How did so much of our paperwork get lost, misplaced, and incorrectly filed? What filled a judge with a spirit of anger toward people she didn’t even know?
There were times I believed it possible God was against us. And if not against us, at the least, He’d just disappeared. Feeling alone, I questioned my faith and searched my heart. It was an emotionally exhausting time.
It’s difficult sometimes to clear away the effects of our feelings in order to claim what we know is truth. Our feelings simply can’t be trusted, They lead us down paths we never should have stepped even one foot on. It’s confusing, though, because the world says to follow our heart, yet our heart can lead us astray – especially in the middle of heightened emotions and challenges.
There were times I believe it possible God was against us. And if not against us, at the least, He'd just disappeared #momentsofhope #adoption #SurrenderedHeartsBook Share on XGod tells us adoption makes a family.
Today I see our daughter’s story and I see God working a powerful good from the pit of all the brokenness that came before. I know that the enemy saw that adoption makes a family and family threatens the havoc he loves to spawn. So it makes sense. Of course he desired to keep us apart using people, time, countries, governments, paperwork, and confusion as his tools.
But back then the picture wasn’t clear. It took everything in me to let go of my vision of how things were supposed to go and take hold of His. I intentionally forced myself to let go of my feelings and take hold of what I knew to be truth. And it was a daily, if not moment by moment endeavor.
Let go and take hold.
Let go and take hold.
It meant surrendering my feelings – my dream – my longing – again and again to take hold of His. Then, just as I’d believe I’d completely surrendered, more layers revealed themselves. So back I would go …
Let go and take hold.
Peace would follow when I walked God's journey instead of my own. #SurrenderedHeartsBook Share on XToday I can see God never let go. He outsmarted the enemy at every turn, cutting through mountains of red tape and unforeseen circumstances. He put people in our lives willing to do more than what their jobs called for. God helped us meet the right people in the right places to bring our girl home because adoption is His will. After all, He tells us adoption makes a family.
Even now He doesn’t let go.
Since our Selah came home, God has been in the business of breaking down the walls she had firmly placed around herself. Once upon a time she needed those walls as protection from the trauma of her life. Those walls don’t break apart easily. In my own power, I’ve bumped into them often. Sometimes I’ve crashed headfirst and it would be easy to allow myself to slip back to place of no surrender.
But then I remember and I let go and take hold.
He did it before and He can do it again. My job is to pray, read, worship, praise, surrender and trust in the God who loves us more than we can comprehend. He’s doing it day after day here in this home. Healing, redeeming, and from the ground up, rebuilding our family. Not just restoring us to our former good – but building us anew. Stronger. Steadier. Smarter.
We are better.
Friend, God most definitely does not let go. Nothing separates us from His love. His word does not return void. His love is unfailing.
I don’t know what you are living right now. What circumstances have you wondering if God has abandoned you. Or maybe doubting He can still love you because of the sin that has filled your life.
But may I please speak into your life?
Nothing can ever separate you from the love of God. His Word doesn’t say
Most things
Or some things.
It says NOTHING will ever separate you from His love.
God didn't say some things cannot separate you from His love. He didn't even say MOST things. God said NOTHING can ever separate you from His love. #SurrenderedHeartsBook Share on XSurrender the pain, the dream, or the wall that you are stuck believing protects you. Trust Him and know …
He will never let go.
Our Story of Hope
My new book, Surrendered Hearts: An Adoption Story of Love, Loss, and Learning to Trust, is our daughter’s story … well, actually God’s story of how He didn’t let go. How He did the miraculous. God showed us His unfailing love and I believe – no, I KNOW – He wants to show it to you as well. But to become witness to the changing of what was once impossible to that of a dream come true, we have to surrender. So, are you willing? Are you willing to join me and live surrendered?
Learn more about the book and get the bonus resources HERE!
Buy Surrendered Hearts on Amazon HERE!
Surrendered Hearts - An Adoption Story of Love, Loss, and Learning to Trust is available NOW on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!! #SurrenderedHeartsBook Share on XIn conjunction with the book, I have partnered with Theresa of Tees Cherished Finds to create a Surrendered Hearts Bracelet! The message to Live Surrendered means that you are choosing to lay down your fears and live surrendered to the One who makes the impossible possible. When you choose to Live Surrendered, you are committing to following Jesus where He calls. You are choosing to let go of your way and take hold of His way. And when you purchase a bracelet, just as when you purchase the book, you are supporting adoption and supporting the truth that adoption makes a family. Just click on the image below or in the side bar to make your purchase. Find the Surrendered Hearts page where you can find out more!
Check out the Surrendered Hearts Bracelet and make a statement to LIVE SURRENDERED! #SurrenderedHeartsBook #SupportAdoption Share on XHave You Made a Commitment Yet?
A commitment to filling your life with hope? Taking the steps to surround yourself with positive, hope-filled content is a step in the right direction. It pushes the negative away and gives you a chance to tune into the Word of God – the most important Word you can receive. If you haven’t signed up yet to receive updates, you can do so right HERE or below. Subscribing will get you my occasional updates. It also gets you full access to my resource-filled Library of Hope! It has a ton of stuff in it to help you meet life’s challenges head on with the best tool we have – the hope of Christ!
What and important (and heartfelt) reminder for all of us today. Letting go can be so hard, and often I have to do it over and over and over again because I keep holding on or picking things up that are not mine to carry.
Letting go may feel hard, but it is always worth it.
You are not alone! I think we all do that – the daily battle with the flesh. We try to pick things back up that are not ours to carry, only stressing ourselves out or weighing ourselves down in the process. And Amen! It is always worth it! Thanks for joining me here, Rebecca! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Lori, for Romans 8 truth! Thanks be to God: we are inseparable!
I feel like I’m always saying it about one verse or another, but Romans 8 really is one of my favorites!
Hey Lori! Love this post and the art work (images). What a story! God does write the best stories ever. And you hit the nail on the head when you said our feelings can’t be trusted. So excited about your new book! Can’t wait to order.
Thanks, Tiffiney! It’s been fun making the new images and adopting the new fonts from the book ♥ It’s always so frustrating when I read the sayings that say, “Follow your heart”. It is not what our young people need to hear. It’s smart to listen to our heart, but then discern which of those feelings align with truth or not. So glad you are here ♥
Emotions can so easily trip us up and cause us to lose sight of the truth. Thanks for this reminder.
I am living proof of feelings tripping us up. I mentioned to Tiffiney above that it frustrates me to see the saying, “Follow your heart.” It is not what our young people need to learn to help them live their best lives ♥
Your story is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness. And congrats on your upcoming book baby! laurensparks.net
God is so faithful. Sometimes it “feel” like He’s not, but He is. Thank you, friend!!!
Great post Lori!
The enemy hasn’t changed in his tactics from the garden, in trying to get us to believe God doesn’t have our best interest at the forefront of His intention for us. Especially when we are in a waiting pattern for an issue in our life, that seems to be in hold 😉
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Blessings,
Jennifer
He really isn’t very creative, is he? Deception is his favorite move to try to separate us from God. Thank you for joining me, Jennifer. I pray our story and testimony serves to point others to the hope we have in Christ. He makes all things possible!
Yes, we need to live surrendered every day. What a beautiful post. I love your book. It is hard to put down and get anything done around here. Blessings, Maree
Yay! That is so good to hear!!! It makes my heart sing ♥ Not that I don’t want you to get anything done, but …. 🙂 Thanks, Maree, you are a treasure!
“Let go and take hold”….the very cry of His heart to us in this long journey we have been on. And yet, He is sovereign, He is faithful, He keeps His promises. He never, ever….no, not once, has failed us! Can’t wait to delve into the fullness of your story WITH you as your book soon arrives from Amazon! Thank you for the hard work of writing down your journey. Heartfelt tears as I just know, they are the very “pathway of faith” to so many more who are reading! Lots of love and prayers on launch day, friend!
Lori, your story and your daughter’s, really as you said, God’s story sounds amazing. I look forward to reading all of it. Blessings as you continue to grow in all He has for you!
His peace is perfect, that’s where we have to keep our minds, let Him be God. I have to work on that too.
Thank you for sharing your heart. These are words I needed to hear. It is time to surrender the future I envisioned to the God who holds my future in the palm of His hand <3