God’s love displayed through adoption

A couple years ago, I volunteered at a summer camp for children in the foster care system. When it came to an end, the counselors and staff gathered together to debrief and share stories of encouragement from camp with one another. One story that has stayed with me since then is about a bittersweet moment a counselor had with his camper. 

During one of the last days of camp, the counselor and his camper were resting in the shade between activities near a carpetball game table. As they waited before heading to their next activity, the camper began rearranging the balls on the table, placing one ball in the center of several other balls. Using the balls as a representation of himself and his family, the camper began to share pieces of his story with his counselor. As he spoke, he revealed how he felt abandoned by each of his family members and started to throw the balls that represented them across the table away from the ball that stood for him. One by one, he continued to throw the balls across the table to symbolize their abandonment of him until he reached the last ball next to his. He paused and said that although most people he trusted had left him, he knew that there was one he can still trust who has always been with him and will never leave him – Jesus. 

When I first heard this story, I wondered how this camper, who was no older than 12, was able to persevere despite the many adversities he has had to endure as a foster kid. Isaiah 40:31 made it clear to me. It states, “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.” Despite not having a family to depend upon, this camper was resilient because his heavenly father adopted him, and his faith and hope was in Him. It’s so easy for us to misplace our hope in things like our family, relationships, work, health...heck, even ourselves, that we lose sight of our one true hope – the Savior who died on the cross and rose again for you and me. 

Adoption is a radical thing, and that is exactly what God does when we ask him into our hearts. He wholeheartedly adopts us as sons and daughters regardless of our failures and weaknesses. His love for us is unconditional. Whether you come from a loving or broken family, He wants you. Whether you struggle with sin in your life or struggle to accept that there is sin in your life, He wants you. Whether you believe in Him or don’t believe in Him, He wants you. The choice is yours. So, what or whom do you place your hope in? Is it in something imperfect and temporary or is it in the perfect and eternal God who knows, loves, and wants you as His son or daughter?

HOW TO PRAY:

  • Pray for the peace and love of Christ in the lives of the children and young adults in the foster care system.

  • Ask God to reveal to you the area(s) in which you may have misplaced your hope and pray for His help in seeking hope in Him alone.


Isaiah 40:31 “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.”


About the Author:
Caitlin currently works on staff with KCB and is known around the office as the “treat queen.” If you give her a donut, you’ll be her best friend for life.

Written for the KCB Lent Prayer Guide and published March 4, 2020. Link: https://www.kcbellflower.org/lent-prayer-guide/2020/3/3/gods-love-displayed-through-adoption-caitlin-gustaff