Uprooting trauma, living in His promises

The impact of "Trauma" is the impact of Sin, which causes deep-seeded fear.  When we handle things in a way that is out of alignment with the Word of God, it impacts others in deep and hurtful ways.  We may think it's not impacting anyone else, but our sin has a ripple affect.  We are quick to point out the wrong in others, and can probably easily point out why the biological parents of our adopted children fall short, but we all fall short.  When we come to that conclusion and confess, asking God for healing and ready to make changes in our own lives, we will be able to help our children as well.

According to research compiled to be easily found in the National Institute of Health:

"Increasingly, human studies are showing that stressful prenatal events such as intimate partner abuse, poverty, and food insecurity have enduring effects on the stress physiology of offspring, and that prenatal and early childhood stress can set the stage for lasting psychological and health challenges.69,70 Of particular note are findings that these effects may persist across generations. Specifically, human studies indicate that second-generation offspring of women who experience stress during pregnancy may have alterations in glucocorticoid signalling and increased susceptibility to affective disorders.56 The implications of these findings are important as they suggest that the effects of prenatal stress may not only affect several generations, but potentially, they can be magnified when additional stress is encountered by affected offspring."

It is not difficult to find supporting evidence that the psychological and physiological state of parents, what they experience, and the choices they make, impacts their children. Is this what God was warning us against for rebellion, and offering promises of blessing with obedience, when He gave us the Ten Commandments? (Exodus 20:1-21, Deuteronomy 5:6-21)God gave us boundaries for our health, and the health of our offspring.  "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29) Mentally, physically, and relationally, our Creator knows us best, and it is not for harm that He created us. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)  The God who created us because He is relational, knew and knows what He created, and His desire for us is for the best.  

You can probably quickly identify choices in your genealogy that were not honoring God, and it looked painful for not only the person making the choice, but their offspring, including you.  Maybe you have been adamant about breaking that pattern that easily comes back in the form of, "dang it, that was what my mom did and I always said I would never...." Or even unidentified fears, that come out in practices like hoarding, or gluttony.  Science has proven that even our physical health is not void of choices that were made in our lineage.  Yet, even these patterns can be broken.  This is God's desire: restoration, and we each have a choice despite the impact of our parents.   

Likewise, our adopted children are impacted by their parent's choices, and often that goes back generations.  It is not surface-level pain they have experienced, it is deep pain, pain that rewires, but can yet be rewired.  This is what God has called you in to, and His Word equips you. 

Isaiah 6:8, "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?" And I said, "here am I. Send me!" 

He gave you a mission and a message.  You may recognize that you have "rescued" this child from their present situation, but the mission you accepted is to go beyond and show them what it is to have a new history, a new truth, that changes the trajectory of their life and gives hope for their family of origin. 

You accepted, and now is your time.  Recognize and fully accept that He called you to a mission that is for your redemption, the redemption of your children and for many before and after.  You must live differently, this is a weighty calling, yet we are all called to make an impact.

Take some time to read Isaiah 8:11-18, and say out loud with Isaiah, "Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me.  We are signs and symbols in Israel (insert your county) from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion."

Because we have been adopted by God, we have perfection in our genealogy:  righteousness that we are to live out.  When we act out of the perfection of Christ, we are living out our adoption as true children of God.  We cannot offer perfection to our children- adopted or not- but we can offer them Christ.  When they accept Christ's perfection, they too can be freed from the sins of their parents.  As they are sanctified- becoming grounded in Christ- they are able to honor even their biological parents, despite any struggles that remain.  Even for the child of toxic parents, we can "honor our mother and father that we would have a long and prosperous life." (Deuteronomy 5:16)

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods' children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory." Romans 8:17

"So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, burn under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. The Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father".  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."  Galatians 4:3-7 

For further encouragement and clarity, read Ephesians (the whole letter), and Deuteronomy 4-14, both addressing people that were to grasp a new identity as God's children.  This is for you and for all your children!  And, it is for their parents, if they could accept it! We are responsible for teaching our children, but each must choose for themselves.