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Grace and Works = Grants and Jobs
You probably already know this. Adoption is expensive. I am not going
to get into all the debate and drama that comes from that. But let’s
suffice to say that most people who adopt cannot financially do it on
their own. Many people say that they would adopt if it weren’t for the
cost.My husband, Matthew, and I are both educators. I began staying at home with our son when he was born, so we live off of one income. During the time I worked, we set aside some of what I was making toward adoption. So we had a “nest egg” to begin our adoption process with. Even so, we knew we would be fundraising and applying for grants.
To apply for most grants you have to have completed your home study. A home study is where your physical home is inspected and there are multiple interviews conducted with the prospective parents–as well as lots of background checks. All of that is done to ensure that the child will be in a safe, loving home that is able to provide for their needs. We had gone through the home study process but were waiting to hear back, so I filled out as many of the multiple grant applications as I could without having our home study. Then I had to wait. I prayed for the home study process to hurry, I prayed that we would get the grants when we filed them. But one day I prayed that whatever way God wanted to provide the money for our girl to come home to us, that He would do that.
Then a temporary part-time job opportunity came up. That I could do mostly from home. When this happened I knew that it was from God. He was providing adoption money. Not through a grant this time, but through work. And it was work that I could do while staying at home with my son. When I estimate what I will make during my time working, it will be able to size of a medium grant. And I am humbled. God is so good to offer me a job that would be at just the perfect time to aid in our financial needs as we work toward bringing our daughter home.
It made me think about grace and works. Both are so essential in our walk with Christ. The Bible speak of God adopting us. So it is too, with our adoption that grace and works are integrated into this journey.
As I study the Bible I find that “works” is the seal of the overflowing of Jesus working in me. So it is all Him, no matter what. This job is like works. It is still from God but I must do my best–working to bring glory to His Name in thanksgiving for what He has given me. Working is a joy to do when love is the motivator. And in our adoption as sons and daughters of God it is our joy to do the things of God.
Grace is receiving something we didn’t work for. It is a gift. Just like a grant is a gift. I do not earn that money, but it is a gift toward bringing our girl home. Grace in our Christian walk is a gift of forgiveness and new life. Grace the foundation of our adoption as sons and daughters of God.
We received our approved home study right before Thanksgiving and I’ve applied for many grants. I am praying that God will bless those grant applications–praying for grace. But at the same time I am filled with such joy as I work each day in this job that God has given me. Each day is another step closer to our girl. One day we will bring her home because of all the glory of God in grace and works. She is deeply loved and longed for.
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