Adopted

“…You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He ADOPTED you as His own children. Now we call Him, ‘Daddy.’ And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later… and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them… If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” – Romans 8:15-31

Shared by a cancer fighter…

“Last Friday I got the results of my first three-month scan. The scan comes three months after surgery. It shows if the cancer is back or not. The scan showed ‘all clear’ and I am cancer free! It was emotional. I was relieved.

It got me thinking. Things happen to us all of the time. Things that we can’t control. And these ‘things’ can beat us down.

• I can’t control cancer.
• I can’t control losing the nerves in my leg.
• I can’t control the damage that chemo and radiation has caused my body.

I didn’t ask for cancer or for the suffering that comes with it, but I can control…

• Thoughts
• Attitude
• Focus
• Effort
• Commitment
• Dedication
• Actions

Helen Keller said ‘Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.’

Going through chemo, radiation and surgeries has been a battle. During the first surgery, nerves in my right leg were removed, leaving doctors questioning if I would ever walk again.

I tell you this for context. I am a coach and, in the day, I was a college sprinter. These are parts of my identity. After surgery, I was told I probably wouldn’t walk, let alone sprint.

My leg lost a lot of its function, but my purpose didn’t change. I may not be able to sprint or coach the way I once did, but my purpose hasn’t changed. I have a choice. Everyday is not going to be an easy day. Bad things happen. How I respond shows who I am. Shows character. Shows determination. Shows that I can overcome.

Bad situations can’t beat me. I have purpose and cancer can’t change that. Today, I’m not writing to tell you what to do or how to act. I’m here to remind you of who you are. To remind you that your purpose continues to be your purpose regardless of what happens to you.”

ADOPTED

Meaning – you were CHOSEN – you were NOT an accident! You were carefully and thoughtfully chosen and, by law, adopted kids (in ancient Israel) cannot be disinherited.

In this life there will be suffering… but we are NEVER alone.

If DADDY is for us, who can be against us?