Are you facing hard places in adoption and wondering if prayer really changes things? Friend, you are not alone. I hope these words offer a lifeline when you feel like you’re drifting into doubt.
As a homeschool mom and adoptive parent, I’ve had seasons when the days felt impossibly long and the heartache ran deep. Years ago, my husband John reminded me, “This won’t be easy.” And he was right. Loving children from hard places takes more than good intentions and structured lesson plans—it takes prayer, patience, and persistent grace.
When Healing After Adoption Takes Longer Than We Hoped
No matter how idealistic I was, I didn’t realize that the right therapy, love, and environment wouldn’t magically undo the pain my kids carried. Trauma leaves marks—some invisible, some obvious—and the healing journey is long. Often, longer than we anticipate.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
When Triggers Cause Regression
We’ve learned that some reactions are not defiance—they’re protection mechanisms. Kids from trauma backgrounds often fight, flee, or freeze in response to perceived threats. These responses are not always logical, but they’re real and rooted in deep wounds.
We don’t need to fix our children; we need to be safe places where they are free to feel—and heal.
When Choices Aren’t Ours to Control
Even when we pour out love, structure, and support, our children—like all children—must make their own choices. Sometimes those choices break our hearts. But even when our kids pull away, God remains close.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
How Prayer Changes Thingsin Adoption
Through all the challenges, I’ve discovered the steady anchor of prayer. Not because it “fixes” my kids—but because it transforms my heart. Prayer gives me strength when I want to give up, wisdom when I feel lost, and peace when everything feels out of control.
A Truth to Hold Onto
“Even if they turn eighteen and walk away from us, they’ll always know our love and hopefully God’s love.”
– My husband, John
I had to let go of the expectation that my actions would guarantee outcomes. Prayer taught me to surrender what I couldn’t control and trust the One who could redeem it all.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
Encouragement for Adoptive and Homeschooling Parents
As homeschool parents, we face unique pressures—educating, discipling, and parenting all under one roof. And when you add adoption or trauma-related behaviors into the mix, the days can feel overwhelming. But God is present in your homeschool. He sees you, and He is working through your faithfulness.
16 Short, Repeatable Prayers for Adoptive Parents and Homeschool Parents
A heartfelt, practical guide for dealing with anger and parenting kids from hard places. Slammed doors. Hurting hearts. Tricia Goyer knows what it’s like to parent children with chronic anger. In Calming Angry Kids, Goyer draws on her own experience to help readers
understand what’s going on in a child’s brain
focus on relationship over rules
teach a child how to handle frustrations without outbursts
control how they express their own anger
establish a standard of respect in the home
Including reflection questions and action steps at the end of each chapter, Calming Angry Kids shows weary parents that peace in their home is within reach.
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