...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16
When I first started featuring a "Dark Horse of the Week" I had no idea of what to expect. Would there be enough kids for a weekly feature? Would a week be long enough?
Now that I've been doing it I've found there are more children than weeks! And a week doesn't feel long enough, but there are so many in line I can't bring myself to make it any longer.
Last night I looked over the fourteen faces of the children we've featured who are still waiting for a forever family and my heart was heavy. I've done all that I can and it still does not feel like it is enough. For every child that gets a family there seem to be hundreds more who still wait.
This morning I came to the realization that I have done all that I can and the Lord reminded me that it is enough. Every prayer that we've prayed is remembered and even if no family should ever show up, the Lord will take care of His children.
This morning I also came to the realization that we can't feature all of these children forever.
But I also don't want them to just disappear unnoticed. They came in with joy and celebration and they shall leave with joy and celebration whether they have found a forever family or not.
These children are treasures and their lives should be celebrated!
The Lord has taught me the importance of saying goodbye. If I didn't release the children I pray for when the season of prayer is complete I would still be carrying those children around. And if I carry those children around beyond the prayer burden that He has given me, than I'm really not trusting Him.
These children were His before He ever brought them to our attention and they will still be His when He releases us from this burden of prayer. He is faithful and trustworthy.
Each one of you who has been praying with us must pray until the burden He has given you is prayed though.
We here at Pages are going to have The Twelve. We will keep 12 "Dark Horses of the Week" listed on our sidebar. But if you still wish to pray for a child even after they have left our list I encourage you to please do so! I myself have prayed for children for months and years at times and if you should be called to do this for a child I encourage you to continue. I also check these adoption agency sites regularly so if any of our past "Dark Horses of the Week" should be found by their forever families I will announce it.
Prayer is not always an easy thing to do. We don't always see the results we want as fast as we would like, and other times we never get to see the answer. But we must remember that the Lord still hears and remembers every word, and every tear.
Thank you to all of you who have joined with us in prayer for these priceless treasures. Though no one may see you when you pray, you have still changed this child's life forever... by loving them.
Nobody knows why your heart is broken
Nobody cries while your prayers are going up
But love does
Nobody walks on the road you're paving
Nobody sees all the souls you're saving
Oh
But love does
Love does
Love does*
Nobody cries while your prayers are going up
But love does
Nobody walks on the road you're paving
Nobody sees all the souls you're saving
Oh
But love does
Love does
Love does*
*Brandon Heath - Love Does
Hi! My name is AnnaLee, and a friend showed me your blog a couple of months ago. Throughout these few months, reading of your heart and dedication to prayer for these little ones has truly touched me, and I pray that Jesus would continue to encourage and bless you in this ministry.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to tell you that this has encouraged me, as well. Jesus has led me to pray and advocate for the Chibok girls, 276 girls aged 16-18 who were kidnapped by the muslim terrorist group Boko Haram. Jesus has kept them on my heart and mind since April 2014, and I too have had to learn to pray "not My will, but Yours be done" in this situation (Luke 22:42, BSB). It can be so heartbreaking to seem to not see any progress; yet, there's so much going on behind the scenes. Ultimately, "...we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28, NLT). Jesus is working these children's lives into a beautiful tapestry of praise to Him; I am excited to see how He is working in their lives, even if we only see it in the next life. I wanted to encourage you with the lyrics of a song, called "Come Alive (Dry Bones)" by Lauren Daigle.
"Through the eyes of men it seems/ There's so much we have lost/ ...But we know that you are God/ Yours is the victory/ We know there is more to come/ That we may not yet see/ So with the faith you've given us/ We'll step into the valley unafraid, yeah// As we call out to dry bones/ Come alive, come alive/ We call out to dead hearts/ Come alive, come alive/ Up out of the ashes/ Let us see an army rise/ We call out to dry bones, come alive!" It is about prodigals, but I believe it can be applied to all of our seemingly unanswered prayers for desperate situations.
I pray Jesus would comfort you as you look at all these un-adopted little ones. I pray Jesus would give you the faith to "step into the valley, unafraid." He is all Light, and He lives in us (John 1:9; 1 John 1:5); He will keep us safe and warm as we walk into that valley, in His Name. Keep radiating His love! As this post says, "Love does" see all you are doing; you are precious in His sight.
Much Love in Christ,
Your sister,
AnnaLee
Thanks AnnaLee for your kind words. (: And thank you for faithfully praying as you have been led!
Delete-Shawshee