Exhausted yet pursuing

Judges 8:4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing,

I read this scripture from Judges today and it really got me thinking about some things.

I need to set this story up a little bit so I have to go back to Chapter 6, I am not going to retell the whole story but stick with me for just a minute here...basically Gideon was an Israelite living in captivity to the Midianites. When the story opens he is beating out wheat in a winepress trying to hide it from the Midianites to keep them from stealing it. the angel of the Lord appears to him and he has an encounter that changes his life, you really should read it for yourself to appreciate how little he thought of himself and his own abilities but it might remind you of yourself just a little bit, I know it was very familiar to me. It went something like, my family tree is full of nuts and my father’s branch has more nuts than any of the rest of them. Have you ever felt like that? God calls you to something and you look around like "WHO ME?" Anyway read past all of that and you will see God take 35,000 men and narrow them down to 300 and then proceed to take down the Midianites. Some of the Midianites fled and part of that group were two princes and two kings, well Gideon caught the princes and was hot on the trail of the kings and that brings us to Judges 8:4 the 300 men (all 300 of them, he hadn't lost one man) were exhausted yet pursuing. Well Gideon asked two cities for some loaves of bread and both of them made fun of him and refused so Gideon promised that when he did capture those kings he would be back to take care of both of those cities and God gave the 300 men strength to keep going and in 8:13-17 you can read about him "taking care of business" with both of those cities. The battle was won anyway and God got all of the glory!

This all got me thinking about our adoption situation. I believe God calls us all to help orphans (Read James 1:27 if you don't believe me). I believe it causes him JOY to hear one of his children make the commitment to adopt an orphaned child but this adoption road isn't easy. I mean we are not really even started and I feel a little weary already. I fell in love with a child prayed for her, loved on her from afar and then she was matched with another family and China told us we didn't qualify for their program. Well I can tell you that was a punch in the gut. I have tried to be strong about it but I have found myself in tears a couple of times. I know God has her best and our best in mind and I am so happy for her and her family. It's just hard to want a child and pursue a child and be told no. But God has shown me again tonight that even though I am exhausted I have to be pursuing. Somewhere on this earth there is a little boy or girl growing in a mother’s tummy that, due to the realities of this harsh world, is going to need a family. I have to keep my eyes set on the mark and ignore those "hunger pains" and turn my longing for another child into motivation to do what is necessary to be able to welcome a child into our home. Believe me not everyone is behind our choice to adopt. There are those that refuse bread and mock us. But just like Gideon did I will pursue what God has called me to do and I will allow God to provide. (Now unlike Gideon I will choose not to make a big statue out of golden earrings and worship it...but that is another post for another day!) I hope you all have a great week and remember even when you are exhausted PURSUE that thing God has for you!!!