Is adopting a child right for me and my family? How can I know for sure?

Psalm 138:8The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Jeremiah 1:5“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Matthew 18:5“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.”

There are some things Scripture is unclear about, but we can be sure of this: God puts a high priority on loving children. If you adopt a child and welcome that child into your heart and life, you are demonstrating the kind of love Christ has shown to you.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Romans 8:26-27The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Adoption is a large decision that changes the course of multiple lives. Making such decisions can be stressful, and it can be hard to discern God’s will amidst our loudly competing motivations. Prayer over such a decision may span a long time. But we can be confident that, if we ask for God’s wisdom and direction, he will provide an answer. We only need to have the faith to follow it.