For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it (Romans 8:15-26, NASB).

This was our study text for Bible study prior to worship this morning. Given that I am in the midst of waiting for my children to arrive, these verses really resonated with me. During my pregnancy with my son, I felt as though I had some (however minute) insight to what it must feel like to be God. Not that I compare myself with Him, but just that having a part in the creation of a new life made me appreciate Him all the more for His creative ability.

Now that I am an adoptive parent who is waiting for the arrival of her children, I have a keener appreciation for the above referenced verses. I can understand how God longs for us to be His children before we choose to surrender our lives in obedience to Him. How He could love us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). How powerful that love is. This is profound. Thinking of this longing, this love, this pre-adoptive wait, so like my own, makes me love God all the more.

It also gives me great insight to the mind of my children. They long to be adopted. They long to call us “Mama” and “Daddy”. The wait is interminable for them as well.

I’m so thankful God uses these metaphors to explain His love for me. I continually find wisdom and comfort in His words.