In the Wait

​Over this past week I have read many blog posts and Instagram comments that have referred to Foster Care as a journey of restoration.  Initially, I didn’t feel that this was an accurate statement.  Foster Care exists because of severe brokenness.  Parents and children alike are scarred from the trauma of being separated from their family.  They struggle to work through the steps of their case plan, and battle to hold onto what is left of their family unit.
 
Our current placement has been with us 19 months.  That is almost two years I have been their Mama LaLa… almost two years I have waited and wondered how this is all going to end.
 
Foster Care may exist because of brokenness, but its intent is restoration. The purpose is to protect children while their parents have time to make lasting positive changes.

​The frustrating truth about restoration is this: it takes time. I have begged God for an answer, willing to know when?  But, today there isn’t an end in sight. 
 
The book of Nehemiah is a celebration of restoration.  It depicts the beginning of the Jews’ return to their land after years spent in exile, and the process of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. They spent years in captivity in Babylon, years of wondering if God was still working,  years of asking God, how and when? After decades of displacement, they were finally granted freedom. But their city back home was still destroyed, there was still no end in sight for their full restoration.
 
Despite being in the messy middle, we see the Israelites celebrate. Nehemiah shares that they worshipped the Lord for almost an entire month, praising Him for His provisions. Even when the work wasn’t finished, they acknowledged the restoration already happening. They thanked God for their deliverance, and trusted Him with what still needed to happen.
 
The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt; the city was restored to its former beauty. The Lord kept his promises; our God is a God of miracles. He can bring restoration to even the most broken of stories. Yes, even yours.
 
What is broken in your life that you are trusting God to restore? A wandering child? Your marriage? Your finances? A friendship? Your emotions?
 
I don’t know how or when our current placement will end, but I trust the Restorer who alone breathes new life into every situation.
 
When your journey has brought you into the deepest, darkest parts of the woods, know that you are not alone. Jesus is moving. Begin to thank Him, like the Israelites, for His deliverance and restoration. Trust Him with the long road ahead. Trust that His timeline hasn’t stopped just because you feel like yours has.
 
You may not see it yet, but He will make all things new in His time. He alone can breathe new life into the wandering, the waiting, and redeem our darkest moments all for His glory.

About the Author

Hello! My name is Laura Pendley. I am a wife, foster mama, and Special Education teacher. Writer has served as an incredible outlet for me through the years as we have walked through infertility and into foster care. Our journey hasn't been easy, but the Lord has used it to grow us in ways we never thought possible. I am passionate about foster care and providing resources and support for children and families in need. I hope through sharing my own experiences, I can encourage other women to lean into Jesus and trust in His perfect plan for their life.

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