in the waiting

There's an element to this waiting that I did not expect as we anticipate his graduation date... and as we have started this adoption process... and as I step fully into my third decade instead of just hovering at the edge...

And that is all these questions!

What kind of work will he look for? Church or secular or both (you know, bivocational ministry)? Will we still be in Louisville? What kind of income will that leave us at? Will I finally be able to leave this nursing gig, or will I have to figure out how to steel myself into continuing? If we wait much longer, will I still be able to have my own children? How much of a priority is it for us, or are we good with just adoption? Are we doing international or domestic adoption? (I would happily go either way) What kind of parents are we going to be? What does that even remotely look like (I know we won't know till it happens, but I can't even remotely imagine what we would look like as parents)?

I'm grateful for blog posts... and most recently John Piper's decision to rehash a 1983 sermon on how to find strength in the strength of God. I have not even begun to start internalizing the message... and this nowhere near answers any of the above questions... but I want to begin memorizing these promises of God now as we look to the future.

1. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
2. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
3. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
4. “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5–6)
5. “The Lᴏʀᴅ God is a sun and shield; the Lᴏʀᴅ bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalms 84:11)
6. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
7. “Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life.” (Psalms 23:6)
8. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
9. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
10. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalms 50:15)

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/how-to-find-strength-in-the-strength-of-god