Adopted and Chosen

In this episode, Vera talks about how and why someone can feel when they are adopted. 

We do not own rights to the music. 

Transcript

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Hey everyone, welcome back to the Treasure Podcast. I'm your host, Vera Haig, and I'm so glad you're here today. If this is your first time listening, welcome. Grab a blanket, get comfy, and let's talk about something real. And if you've been here before, you already know this isn't a place for surface level stuff. We go deep, we talk about real life, and sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable, but that's where the growth happens. So today's episode is called Adopted and Chosen. And this is one close to my heart because it's about something that I went through, which is adoption. Not just being adopted into God's family, but also being adopted here on earth. Kids and teens being brought into new families, new homes, new lives. Sorry, y'all. My I'm a little out of breath. I just ran down the stairs. All right. Back on track, uh track. So adoption is one of the most powerful pictures of love. It's about being chosen, wanted, and brought into a family. But it's also something that can bring up a lot of emotions like rejection, confusion, and even bitterness. I think it's very important to talk about that side too. Because pretending those feelings don't exist doesn't make them go away. So let's start with what the Bible says about adoption. Ephesians 1 5 says, having predestinated us and to the adoption of Tojan by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will. That verse tells us something amazing. God didn't just accept us, He wanted us, He chose us on purpose. He looked at us with all of our flaws, all of our mistakes, and said, That one's mine. You know, sometimes when people get adopted, especially older kids or teens, I mean, really, even in general, it's not super easy to feel chosen. There might be a quiet thought in the back of your mind that says, Why didn't my first family want me? Or why did this have to happen to me? And honestly, those are real questions. They're not wrong to ask. This goes the same with our relationship with God. Some people wonder if God really wants them, or if he just took them in because he had to. But that's not who God is. Romans 8.15 says, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father. That word Abba, however you say that, means something like daddy. It's close, it's personal, it's family. God doesn't just call us his servants, he calls us his kids. Adoption, whether spiritual or physical, is about belonging. It's about being brought into a family that loves and protects. But sometimes, even after being adopted, people still carry pain. They might wonder if they really fit in or if they'll ever feel like they belong. That's where healing starts. By realizing that being chosen doesn't depend on being perfect. God didn't wait for anyone to get everything right before adopting them into his family. There might be walls built from past hurt. There might be fear that this new love won't last. But love that comes from God is steady. It doesn't change when mistakes happen. It doesn't fade when things get hard. Bitterness can make it hard to see that love. Bitterness is sneaky. It doesn't always look like anger. It can look like shutting down or not letting people get close. But bitterness doesn't heal anything. It just makes the pain grow deeper. Hebrews 12 15 warns, looking diligent diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Bitterness is called a root for a reason. It grows deep and it spreads. It can affect how someone sees others, how they see themselves, and even how they see God. But gratitude pulls that root out. Gratitude doesn't mean pretending everything's fine, it means choosing to thank God even when things don't make sense. 1 Thessalonians 5.18 says, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It doesn't say to be thankful for everything, but in everything. Gratitude says, even though I don't understand, I trust that God is still good, and this is part of his plan. Gratitude changes how we see things. It helps us notice the blessings we might have missed, the people who stay, the small moments of kindness, the quiet ways God provides. Let's picture this for a second. Imagine a teen who's been in foster care for years. They've moved from home to home, never really feeling like they belong anywhere. Then one day a family chooses them. That's awesome, right? They bring them home, give them a room, a place at the table, and a new lost name. But even with all that love, it might take time for that teen to believe it's real. They might still carry the pain of the past. Scratch that. They will still carry the pain of the past. That's kind of how it is with God, too. He's adapted us into his family, but sometimes we still act like we're unwanted. We keep waiting for him to change his mind, but he never will. John 6 37 says, Him that cometh to me, I will know in no wise cast out. Once God brings someone into his family, they're his forever. Psalms 68.6 says, God setteth the solitary in families. That means he sees the lonely, the left out, the ones who feel forgotten, and he gives them a place to belong. That's what adoption is all about. It's God's way of saying you're not alone anymore. But what about when adoption doesn't feel easy? What about when there's tension, misunderstandings, or hurt? That's where forgiveness comes in. Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending the pain didn't happen. It means choosing to let go of the right thing, of the right to stay angry. It's saying, God, I trust you to handle this. Colossians 3 13 says, Forbearing one another and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Forgiveness is part, granted. But it's free. When someone forgives, they make room for peace, and peace is what God wants for his children. Philippians 4 7 says, And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That peace doesn't come from pretending everything's fine. By all means. It comes from trusting that God is still writing the story. Every adoption story, spiritual or earthly, has moments of joy and moments of pain, but through it all, God's hand is steady. If you've ever felt unwanted, unseen, or unloved, remember this. God saw you before anyone else did. He knew your name before you were born. And he chose you not because of what you could offer, but because of who he is. Jeremiah 31:3 says, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn thee. That's the kind of love that doesn't fade, doesn't give up, and doesn't walk away. Sometimes gratitude takes practice. It's not always easy to be thankful when life feels unfair, but gratitude grows when it's watered with truth. The truth is that God's love is constant. The truth is that being adopted by Him or by a family is not a second choice. It's part of His plan. Remember, Romans 828 says, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Even the painful parts of the story can be used for good. If you've ever struggled with bitterness, start small. Thank God for one thing today. Maybe it's a person who's shown kindness. Maybe it's a moment of peace. Maybe it's just the fact that you woke up this morning. Gratitude doesn't have to be big, it just has to be real. And if you're adopted like me, or if you ever felt like you don't belong, remember that belonging isn't about where you came from, it's about who holds you now. God holds you, He calls you His child, and He never lets you go. Galatians 4, 6 through 7 says, And because you are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father, wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. That means you're not just a part of the family, you're an heir. You have a future, a purpose, and a place that no one can take away. So whether adoption for you is something you lived through, something you've seen, or something you're still trying to understand, know this. God's love is the foundation of it all. He takes what's broken and makes it whole. He takes the lonely and gives them a home. You are not forgotten, you are adopted, chosen, and deeply loved by God and by the people whose He's placed around you. That's it for today's episode. If this helped you, please share it to all your friends. Thanks for listening to the Treasure Podcast. Remember, you are loved, chosen, seen, and treasured.