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Barren but Blessed – Trusting God with the Rest
Am I Really Capable?
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4:12
As we enter a new phase of life, I believe it is only natural to question our capabilities. I would imagine any new mother spends countless evenings wondering on their ability to succeed in this new role. Becoming a foster / adoptive parent stirs up the same doubts.
When we received our first placement, two girls aged two and eight months, we were excited, nervous and full of naivety. I had worked in daycare for years and I expected our new additions to come with typical two and eight month old behaviors. I did not expect them to come infested with head lice.
I have very few deal breakers in life and head lice is one of them. I instantly questioned my ability to be a foster parent and felt as if God were setting me up for failure. Where would they sleep? I couldn’t ruin the brand new mattress. What would I do about work? I couldn’t take them to the daycare. I was overwhelmed, crying out to God for guidance.
God was not setting me up for failure! In fact, he carefully orchestrated every aspect so that I would indeed succeed. Ephesians 4:12 reminds us that He will equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. God handled a donated mattress delivery and scheduled my husband off work for days while we attacked the head lice.
God gifted me everything I needed to succeed, to include a husband who is not deathly afraid of head lice and who dutifully picked nits out of their little heads with no complaints. A husband who built up the body of Christ by showing compassion, love and making those little girls feel like the most important girls in the world at that moment.
Satan enjoys emphasizing our doubts and fears. He uses them to blind us to the tools that God has laid before us and celebrates when Christ’s body is not built up. Only Satan will tell you you’re incapable! Thankfully, you have a God that is bigger who has enlisted you on this path and He will equip you for works of service.
Fight the doubt in your mind with God’s word. Believe in yourself and believe in the God who is setting you up for success.
5 Comments on “Am I Really Capable?”
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This is a wonderful post. Thank hoj for sharing it .
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Thanks Angela! Well written! This is the third message this week, I’ve heard about not allowing fear to stop us from victory. I do believe God is saying, “Do not fear, Valerie! I have already won!”
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Foster parents are angels on this Earth. Thank you for sharing your heart and home with these children. I don’t blame you for not welcoming the head lice. God’s got you covered for handling what fostering parenting throws at you.
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My daughter and her family just adopted their foster child. It is wonderful ☺
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