True Vine Tuesday: When God Calls Us Deeper

The years leading up to our adoption were filled to the brim with raising three kiddos, working full-time jobs, going to graduate school, moving into a new home, and all of the in-between. We were happy, settled, complete with our three children, moderate-sized house, stable jobs, good church, great friends—and dare I say content with our little American Dream life.

I had a small, accidental side business apart from my day job where I could connect with other moms, share my passion for a healthy and holistic lifestyle, and earn a little extra spending cash. I never really wanted to have another “business,” but it happened anyway.
I began to ask the Lord what He wanted us to do with this extra income I was earning. Should we save it for college or vacation? Donate it? Give it toward a bigger cause? What?

We had several adoptive families in our lives, and soon the answer became pretty clear that we should give at least some of our extra income to a specific family who was adopting two little girls from China. They were in the middle of their fundraising journey, so I committed to give a portion of my monthly earnings from my little side gig to this family, and we felt good about that!

One day while on a run, the song “Called Me Higher” by All Sons & Daughters came through my headphones and stopped me in my tracks. I had heard the song hundreds of times and never thought anything of it. But this time, it was like the Lord was tuning my ear to hear His voice…

“But You have called me higher, You have called me deeper…”

I had to stop running. Tears flowed down my cheeks, and thoughts started racing through my head… thoughts of the family we had been supporting, stories I had recently been hearing of adoption, my four-year-old son asking for a little brother—and the Lord put a fire in my heart at that very moment for adoption.

I knew we were not just to support and walk alongside other families who were adopting, but we were to be ones who adopt. The Lord told me He loved that we wanted to support other adoptive families and didn’t want us to stop, but this… this was a specific act of obedience FOR US.

The words hit me like a ton of bricks. We were sitting, waiting, staying, feeling safe, holding on, but there were other things stirring inside of me—a longing for deeper connection with the Lord, deeper obedience, deeper faith, and something more for our family. And I just KNEW this was a true calling from the Lord that was necessary for us to obey.

I immediately went home and told my husband (who wasn’t necessarily on board with my “calling”). He had a bunch of reasons, and honestly, they were all very valid. An endeavor like adoption would require time, talent, and treasure we did not have. We also didn’t have the space, support, or resources we felt we needed to embark on a journey like this.

I agreed… and I tried to brush off the experience on that run, chalk it up to endorphins, emotions, and maybe mishearing God… but I just couldn’t shake it. For weeks, I would casually bring it up, and my husband would remind me why this just wasn’t an option for us.
Finally, I prayed God would either put the burden for adoption on my husband’s heart or remove the desire from me. It was too difficult to be consumed by it and not be united in this calling. I prayed that prayer for a couple of weeks, and one day he walked in the door from work, teary-eyed, and told me it was time to look into adopting.

Earlier that day, after a persuasive debate on adoption in his speech class, a student of his boldly and bravely told him, “Everything you’ve said about why people shouldn’t adopt is based on FEAR, and fear is not from God!”

(First of all… what?! What 16-year-old girl tells her teacher that?! Talk about immediate obedience!!)

And that was all the conviction he needed to realize this call was not just for me, but for our whole family. That night, we started our international adoption process.

We were told it would take 5–7 years… but in TWO years’ time, in the middle of the pandemic, we brought our adopted son home and into our family. It was a WILD ride, a miracle story that only God could’ve ordained.

And because God is so good—and in case we had any question about whether or not this was His plan—we found out the student who spoke truth to my husband at school shares the same birthday as our adopted son. Only God can do that!

To think that we could have missed it all. We could have stayed sitting, hoping, waiting, and staying safe in our comfort. Instead, the Lord led us down the rollercoaster path of international adoption that has changed our hearts and lives for the better forever. In His mercy, He lit the path for us every step of the way, and He continues to do so.

Looking back, we can see how He led us into that little side business, moved us to Fort Wayne, changed our jobs, connected us to Pathway Community Church—all to line things up so this could happen. He was working, even when we couldn’t see it and had NO idea this was on the horizon.

Through this, our faith has grown in indescribable ways—our generosity, perspective, and values have shifted. The Lord has been faithful in providing EVERY SINGLE thing we’ve needed: finances, space, time, resources, support, counselors, therapists, and medical providers.

We have met so many other families through our adoption and through True Vine at Pathway whom we can now lean on, love, and share the struggles and successes of this journey with. We have seen His hand over every single detail in ways we likely would have never experienced had we ignored this calling into adoption. We are forever grateful to God for His love and faithfulness.

God is good and faithful. If you are on the fence about adoption or foster care, reach out. If you feel that tug on your heart, pray about it, then talk to someone on the True Vine team. There are resources available for you to learn more and help you get started. Our church is an incredible resource, full of helpful and wise families who have navigated this road—many more than once. We would love to walk alongside you.

Learn more about True Vine, Pathway's Adoption and Foster Care Ministry, HERE.