Praying for Baby Babcock
As most of you know, Amber and I are adopting a child from Nicaragua. We’ve been in this process for over a year now, which may sound like a long time, but in the context of international adoptions (specifically Nicaragua adoptions), we’re only halfway or a third of the way there. In the last year I wouldn’t say we’ve grown impatient with how slowly things have progressed. I’d say we’ve grown desperate. We’re desperate to bring home our little boy or girl.
Last Sunday morning we overslept and missed church. We were kicking ourselves, but decided to do “church at home” by listening to sermon podcast. The sermon we chose (or maybe the one God chose for us) was by David Chadwick, pastor at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, titled “Faith and Waiting”. It was so impacting, so timely, so powerful that it seemed like it was just for us. If you’re like us — waiting for a BIG unanswered prayer to be answered — you should download this message. Here are our sermon notes (and I promise I’ll tie this back in with the original paragraph on our adoption!):
A. God’s delay is not God’s denial. Sometimes He puts us in times of waiting. Why? There are several possible reasons for God’s delay, including:
- The Law of Nature. There is a process to farming, growing and cultivating. You have to plant seeds to reap a harvest. In the spiritual realm, prayers are the seeds. It simply takes the time and effort to plant seeds of prayer for God to provide an answer.
- To develop character. Sometimes God uses the process of waiting for an answer to prayer to develop character — or holiness — in us as Christians. When are the best times for God to work in us, to show us sins or flaws we need to repent of and correct? When we’re in the valley. When we’re calling out to Him for help. In times of waiting. God is not going to answer our prayers if we’re living in sin. “Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
- To develop patience. Be patient in being a patient, a person waiting for help or healing. We could all use more patience!
- Because we’re not really seeking God. Are we truly sold out for God? How much time do we spend in prayer? Do we pray like our lives depend on it? Are we self-sufficient or Christ-dependent? By the way, the times when we truly are dependent on God are the times when we’re in the “valley,” when we see no way out…except to put our trust in Him.
- Spiritual warfare. There’s a battle going on between forces of Good and forces of Evil that we cannot see. Our prayers are connected to the victory of God, so don’t stop praying!
- We may never know. Some answers may be hidden from us forever, until we reach eternity. God’s in control. He’s all-knowing. He’s all-powerful. We’re not. But one day we’ll understand exactly what He was doing, how He was working in our lives. And the most common word said in heaven will be, “Ohhhh…”
B. While waiting, pray persistently like a beggar on the streets who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. We’re in a “wait training program,” which is very much like an actual weight training program. What’s the key to wait training? Resistance and repetition. What’s the resistance? The delay. And the repetition? Our persistent prayer. God doesn’t use anyone who doesn’t get into the wait room.
C. The longer the wait, the more glorious the results. The best benefits come through waiting. When something has been prayed for a lot it has the power of God behind it! And it may take some time, but when God finally brings it forth it will be beyond anything that you could have thought or imagined!
And what result or benefit or answer could be any more glorious than a child?!?!
Which brings be back to paragraph 1. In our desperation we’ve decided (rather, God has pointed out to us) that our prayers need to reflect our desperation. We need to be more intentional. We need to pray until it hurts. We need to pray because we hurt. We need to pray like the beggar on the street who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to pray daily. And not just a little 20-second prayer of God, can you speed things up for us? We’re going to pray:
- For God’s hand to be on the entire process
- For all of our paperwork to be sufficient and exactly in order
- For favor with the Nicaraguan government’s adoption agency
- For the safety, security, and well-being of our little boy or girl
- For his or her transition into our family
- And for him or her to grow up knowing and loving Jesus
Will you join us in our desperate prayers?
It’s pretty simple: We’re committing to praying daily and fasting weekly. Monday is our day to fast right now, but we might change that in the future. This is going to be our day to go without food — to feel the hunger pangs that a person on the street would feel — and to pray like a beggar, not caring what anyone else says or thinks.
If you would like to join us — to set aside some time each day or maybe one day per week of fasting to pray like a beggar – to pray for “Baby Babcock” or for any other requests or petitions in your life that the Lord lays on your heart — then comment on this post or on my or Amber’s Facebook or Twitter sites. Your comments and responses will encourage us to keep on keeping on, to keep praying desperately, and remind others to pray too.
Here are a few examples of comments you could leave:
“I’m praying for ‘Baby Babcock’ to sleep well tonight, and for her to know that God’s preparing her forever family for her.”
“I’m asking God for his divine intervention and for the adoption process to come to a joyous conclusion.”
“I’m fasting today as I pray for ‘Baby Babcock,’ asking that Jesus will capture his heart at an early age.”
“I’m fasting and praying for ‘Baby Babcock’ today, but I’m also praying for ________. Will you join me in my desperate prayer?”
Let’s start a movement together, not just for the sake of our future son or daughter, but for God’s sake. Let’s become prayer warriors together. Let’s become desperate men and women of prayer, remembering that…
- God’s delay is not God’s denial.
- While waiting, pray persistently like a beggar on the streets who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
- The longer the wait, the more glorious the results.
Amen!
Demi Bean said:
You guys are amazing. I know that this child can’t wait to meet you either. God is preparing like crazy, and when it finally does happen..well God’s work is always perfect so everything will be as it should! Love you both!
Jayn & Dave Anderson said:
You guys ROCK! You’re not alone in this process! Baby Babcock is covered in prayer and love, as well as both of you! Love ya’ll! :o)
Mom Dad & Brother Bronson Knoxville said:
Dear Amber & Nathan: I can relate to the times I experienced God straightening out the sins in my life and also guiding me when others
sinned against me. One major example is when Amber’s sister Veronica wanted her college money for everything except college.
Ronny and I started doubting our decision with the money, so we prayed along with Bronson as a family about the money. Ronny instructed me to not ask my mother or anyone what we should do
with the money. After two weeks of praying, I became inpatient and disobeyed Ronny by trying to call my mother twice (first time was the night before God answered our prayers and the second time the next morning when our prayers were answered). I could not reach my mother either time and it was my belief that God interrupted the phone lines, because my answer that morning came by thoughts from God which were “Obey (i.e. I need to obey my husband), She needs to learn (i.e. Veronica needs to learn to be patient and not ask for her college money - by the way, she completed mortician school), and Silence of the Lamb (this phrase frightened me initially, but it became clear later that it was meant for me to be involved with Ronny’s salvation.”)
In this situation, God answered our prayers beautifully when the timing was right. If it is meant for you and Nathan to know “WHEN” your adoption will go through to calm your anxieties, God will bring forth the answer at the right time. We are thinking and praying for you.
Britt said:
I am committed to praying for Baby Babcock and you both! I cannot imagine a better home for this precious child to enter into and I cannot wait to meet them someday. I pray that the Lord will speak to your hearts while He prepares you for the newest addition to your family.
I also pray that He will keep Baby Babcock safe, warm, fed, and loved on in the meantime. I pray for patience, wisdom, and a deeper love for one another during this time of desperation.
I love you both and am a committed Warrior to your BB prayer efforts!
Britt
Nathan said:
WOW!!! Thank you all so much for your comments! Keep ‘em coming!
Many of you have emailed me directly too, telling me about how you’ll be praying and fasting on certain days. We appreciate all of your prayers so much! We just know that God is going to work through your fervent prayers to bring “Baby Babcock” to us very soon!!!
Matthew Larson said:
I’m praying baby babcock will not make your head sweat by holding a boy’s hand all day at daycare when she’s not even 2. (aaaggghh!)
j.k. - we’re praying for baby babcock and we’re praying for you two as well. Christy’s health problems gave us considerable fear we wouldn’t have kids. Not sure why we believed that but doubt can creep in. And of course you know how we ended up. Stay steadfast and look for the joy in the journey and you’ll be a mom and dad before you know it.
Nathan said:
So many of you have sent emails or comments on Facebook and Twitter about your prayers for “Baby Babcock.” We thank you from the bottom of our heart!
Chris and Kristen Brace said:
We will be praying daily for Baby Babcock…yes in HIS timing..amen i know it’s hard to wait..been there for several things….in the end bang what a gift…our son isaac will be praying every night for baby Babcock..and well you know how little babes prayer are to our father..like bolts of lightning!! miss you all!
The Stecker Family said:
Praying for your paperwork to go smoothly today! Excited to see God’s hand at work for the precious child that he had planned for your family before the foundation of the world!
The Eoff family said:
We are praying for you, your marriage, your child, your ministry, and your walks with the Lord.
Nathan said:
Thanks for all of your prayers, guys! The latest news is that we’re waiting for word from our attorney here that the Nicaragua adoption agency, “Mi Familia”, has approved our dossier. At that point we’ll be able to “officially” apply with Mi Familia and await our final approval. One step at a time!
Roz Page said:
I love you guys and am Praising God for the beautiful child HE has already picked out for you. Waiting with you in prayer! Keep me posted. Roz
Aunt Paula said:
You sweet, young things are such a testimony and inspiration to so many! I’m so thankful and proud that you desire our great God to be in control. Love you tons and anxious to see you next month!
Michael said:
Hi ya’ll, we are praying for you, and trusting in the Lord’s timing. We didn’t get Seven when we wanted her, but we got her when it was best. I know ya’ll know and trust the Lord and your spirit is testimony to that. Thank you for the logical and true explanation you detailed above from Faith and Waiting: we all need to be reminded of those truths!
God Bless ya’ll, we can’t wait to see you back here in the USA soon. Let’s party and hang out and watch football when you get back!!!
Mom Dad Bronson and Veronica Knoxville said:
At Knoxville Christian Center, we’ve had sermons for three weeks on prayer, fasting, and giving. I learned some things that can hold us back from this: worrying, addictions, obsessions, to name a few. I missed week one, but week two I discovered I needed to work on my “worrying habit demon” and fast. Week three God confirmed through the sermon how we have a give and take relationship with God, except He has the ability to give back to us threefold. Just by being present and listening to the sermons, I got back on track spiritually.
Lots of love, hugs, and kisses to our faithful Nicaraguan kids!!