Stories of Hope: The Massey Family

As we enter the Season of Hope leading up to the DAY of Hope we are celebrating by sharing beautiful, hopeful stories. Today we want to introduce you to Julie Massey, a One Orphan Storyteller team member and a waiting China momma. This story speaks to the wait and what she is learning in the process. 

Allowing God to Fill you Up

by: Julie Massey

My time with God this past Wednesday morning was just a sweet time. I could feel His presence and comfort. God led me to a specific passage that I’ll explain how later on in this post. This was very different from how He usually leads me to just the right verses. This adoption process is very emotional at times and creates all kinds of feelings that are just hard to understand and even verbalize to others. But I am so humbled that God has allowed our family to go through this even if it’s the hardest thing in my life that I have gone through. I struggle often but I try my best to live by the verse in Proverbs (18:10) “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.â€

We approached 100 days of waiting this week. Almost 100 days since we have been “logged in” and could have been called and matched with our child.  I woke up that Wednesday morning feeling emotionally drained and very lonely in the “wait.†The first sentence I wrote in my journal with tears coming from my eyes was “Just would love some encouragement today.â€

That morning before Josh left for work, I told him that I just didn’t know what to read in my Bible. I feel like I always go to the same books that I’m familiar with and that God has used during the past several years when I said, “Yes†to going on a mission trip to China. I wanted to read something different that morning.

After Josh left for work, I turned to the table of contents in my Bible. I said a short prayer of God please show me where to read that would give me encouragement to get through this day of loneliness. When I opened my eyes, 2 Thessalonians stuck out to me and was the first thing I saw. As I turned to it, I thought to myself-“Maybe I have underlined verses in the past that maybe would minister to me this morning.†ONLY GOD!!! He answered my prayer IMMEDIATELY! I felt like He was saying, I’m still here. I have you waiting a LONG time on your child and waiting to even know who your child is, but I’m still here, it’s not time for you to be matched, I’m faithful and can still answer your prayers in different ways while you wait.

That morning I read what I had underlined from a previous quiet time. God led me to verses I had underlined just like I was hoping for as I was turning the pages in my Bible. I read 2 Thes. 2:13-17 (Stand Firm) God even took me to scripture that used the word, “encouragement/encourage†TWICE ( vs. 16-17 NIV version). That’s exactly the word I used in my journal of what I needed. He filled me up that morning. We should never feel lonely because we have God. People can fail us, but God’s word never changes and will never fail us. We need to run to him always! I’m talking to myself about this and have to constantly remind myself of this.

I encourage you to read 2 Thes. 2:13-17 below:

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[a] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[b] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

So from this I will…..

-Stand firm in the teachings I have learned.
-Stand firm because I know I am loved by God.
-Stand firm because He chose me (an imperfect person that messes up daily) to be saved.
-Stand firm in the fact that I was saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.
-Stand firm because I believe the truth.
-Stand firm because He called me that I may see the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Stand firm because of His love and by His grace gave me ETERNAL ENCOURAGEMENT (unfailing comfort) and good hope!
-Stand firm because God can ENCOURAGE my heart and strengthen me!

Whatever you are going through, allow God to encourage your heart. Be still with Him and He will meet you where you are. There is no way our family could get through this adoption process without God and His word. When you run to Him, you are safe. I wish I could say that I am daily running to His word, but I’m not as much as I would like to. But when I do, He fills me up!

I am praying that God will fill you up this week. Wherever you are in the wait.