He Hears our Cries

Last night at Bible Study I shared some of our adoption story. It's been a long time since I shared some of those details. It always amazes me how much emotion it evokes in me after all this time. I noticed that the few details I shared evoked a lot of emotion in the other ladies in the class as well. Today I just wanted to share some of a passage of Scripture that God used to comfort me during the seven years of waiting for Him to work out the details of our adoption.
While waiting, our adoption agency very wisely had us read up on the research about life in Chinese orphanages and the long-term effects on the children. We all know that most babies cry to communicate when they have a need. Mommy hears that cry and then comes to meet the need. This teaches the child, that when in need, he/she need only cry out. Babies in orphanages typically have a very different experience, however, from what I've read. I learned that after many, many hours, days, months of nobody coming to meet their needs when they cry, the babies usually lose hope of anyone coming to their rescue. So, they quit crying. This absolutely breaks my heart, because it means that in their little spirits- they have given up. They have no hope. It was especially hard for me to know that my baby girl was somewhere in China with nobody to hear her cry and come to meet her needs. The fear this creates in a child can leave effects for a lifetime! God used these verses from Psalms 10 to comfort me.
Psalms 10: 12, 14-15, 17-18: "Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless...But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless...You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, definding the fatherless, and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."
Isn't God so GOOD! He heard Jenna-Hope (then called Mei Cong) every single time she cried! He knew her every need, and as she cried, He listened and He ENCOURAGED her and DEFENDED her! I believe He even "took" her "in hand-" holding her while He worked out the details to bring us to her.
Ladies, this is all true for us as well! He hears our cry! Every time! Psalms 56:8 even tells us that God collects our every tear in a bottle! We have never been overlooked, because He never takes His eyes off of us - He sees our trouble and our grief. He takes us in hand, too! He knows our needs and the desires of our hearts. He encourages His baby girls. Whatever happens, and no matter how long you feel your heart has been crying out to the Father, DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE! You are so dearly loved.
One last thing before I end for now. I'd like to encourage any mamas of young children. Sometimes it seems like those little ones cry SO MUCH! They cry at night, they cry when they're wet, cold, hungry, etc. Then later they cry when they don't get their way or brother/sister takes their toys. But please be encouraged that every single time you respond to the cries of your precious child, you are showing them the face of God! You are teaching that child the faithfulness and tender compassion of our Loving God! And every time they cry again, you can know that you have given your child hope. You are building trust and security in the heart of your child. What a high and holy calling! Don't grow weary of doing good, there is a HARVEST! (Gal. 6:9)
Please leave me a comment - I'd love to hear from you - my adopted sisters!
In His Amazing Love,
Tina