Colombian Brewed: More Than Conquerors

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:31-19
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

During the past two months I have had the privilege of walking along side all of our children as God has brought them through some major life transitions. Seeing God work always amazes me. Knowing that God is for us and that He has been faithful to us in the past is sufficient for me to trust that He will carry us through any tribulation, distress or trial again now or in the future. I rejoice to see His good work. Even when things are challenging at home for some children, His good work in our lives is providing love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness and self-control when we depend on Him and forgiveness when we fall into the temptation to rely on self and fall miserably short.

People often ask us with genuine curiosity, "How are things going?" In all honesty we have had a few (but very few) big and messy moments that I do not desire to repeat, but overall I can see that we are becoming more than conquerors and that considering everything the transition to life as a family of eight is going great. Transition to a new family is a process for everyone, so it is hard to put a quantitative label on that process at any given moment. It is a journey and while there are moments of trials and distress, we know that there is something essential to be learned in each one of those moments: specifically that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus. Enduring challenges with our children and clinging to Christ is a precious part of this journey, maybe the most precious thing we can teach them.

So if you ask how we are doing and I smile, think a moment, and tell you that we are doing great it is because we are clinging to Christ in a life that is full of real adventure (better than a made-for-TV movie), not because we have got it all together in some superficial sort of way. On the flip-side, if you ask how we are doing I answer you with tears and tell you that we are doing great, that too is because we are clinging to Christ in this adventure. Both are part of the reality that together with our children we are learning and experiencing that through Him we are more than conquerors.