I rose one morning, like I usually do as a mom of three precious children, but this particular morning was different. I woke up with an overwhelming feeling weighing on my heart.

You see, the day before had been a long one for our adopted son. Lately, it seems like we take a step forward in growth only to slide a few steps back. He is five years old but has the developmental abilities of a three-year-old. He can also be very rigid when it comes to his routines, and if they are interrupted in any way, it can become a real challenge for him. He regresses quickly.

Our hearts break for him because we long for him to be able to communicate as most five-year-olds do, yet it remains a struggle. There is often a lot of screaming instead of using words. Although we have learned what works and what doesn’t work for him, things are still not always black and white. Sometimes he simply has to let it all out, and those moments can be loud.

Thankfully, those episodes do not happen as often as they once did, and he has made significant strides in his growth and development. He truly is a miracle.

On this particular morning, the Lord drew me to a verse that spoke deeply to my heart.

John 9:3 says:
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”

That morning, I was met with God’s reassuring truth: through it all, God is being seen, and His glory is being displayed through our son’s life and his challenges. We have to trust that although we would never wish these struggles on him, God is using them for His purposes and His glory.

We didn’t cause these challenges, and neither did our son. But what we can do is continue to shepherd his heart through them, knowing that as we do, God’s glory will be revealed. His sovereignty will shine through every hurdle, every setback, and every victory.

We must learn to view his challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities for God’s power and glory to be displayed even more.