There were so many days when my children were little that I wondered if I’d make it to their 18th birthdays with my sanity — or my spirit — still intact.
The endless cycle of therapy appointments, managing physical health needs, navigating meltdowns, and trying to hold it all together emotionally... it felt like too much. What wore me down the most wasn’t the to-do list — it was the heaviness of my children’s emotional pain. When trauma would rise to the surface, it often looked like loud, angry outbursts or complete emotional shutdowns. And as their mama, I couldn’t always fix it.
I remember crying behind a locked bathroom door more times than I can count, whispering, “God, I can’t do this.”
But I also remember His whisper back.
“You’re not doing this alone.”
Adoption is beautiful, redemptive, and deeply rooted in God’s heart — but it is also hard. It requires a strength beyond ourselves. And that is exactly where God meets us.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
There’s something about walking through the valley that makes us more aware of our Shepherd. When we’re overwhelmed, it’s not a sign we’re failing — it’s an invitation to fall into the arms of the One who never grows weary.
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Mama, if you’re in that place — feeling like hope is slipping through your fingers — I want you to know you’re not alone. Not only has God promised to be with you, but there are others (like me) who have walked this hard road and lived to tell of His faithfulness.
Healing takes time. Regulation takes time. So does rebuilding trust and rewiring trauma. But you are not forgotten in the process.
God sees you. He strengthens you. And He delights in showing up right in the middle of your exhaustion.
You don’t have to carry it all.
You don’t have to have it all together.
You only have to lean into the One who does.
There is hope — real, soul-deep hope — because God is still writing your story and your child’s story, even in the messy middle.
Today's Affirmation
Today, I choose hope.
God is with me in the hard moments.
He is my strength when I feel weak.
He sees my child, He sees me, and He is faithful to heal what I cannot fix.
A Prayer for the Weary Adoptive Mom
Lord,
You see me in the hidden places — the moments when I feel weary, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to keep going. You know the burdens I carry and the cries of my heart for my child. Thank You for being near to the brokenhearted and for promising to renew my strength when I place my hope in You. Help me rest in Your presence today. Remind me that I don’t have to do this alone. Be my peace in the chaos and my anchor in the storm.
I trust You to bring healing — to my child’s heart and to mine.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Did the verses in this post speak to your heart? Share your thoughts in the comments below.