How You Can Join Us in Prayer
At Show Hope, the greatest gift one could share is that of prayer. It is something we do not take lightly. We are committed to the truth that prayer is, in fact, essential in our work and in our relationship to the Father. The Bible teaches us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Our prayers are not simply utterances to comfort us; they are markers of our faith and reflect the beautiful connection we have with our Creator and Redeemer. The following are specific ways you can join us in prayer:
We pray for children who have been orphaned. There are millions around the world who do not know the love and permanency of family. Their longing for love and security—to be seen, to be heard, to be regarded as precious—reflect the very heart of our creation as God’s image-bearers, and it is our mission to care for these children as God has called us (James 1:27).
We pray for birth parents. There are circumstances surrounding the birth of a child that we will never fully comprehend, and trusting in God’s sovereignty is all we can muster. And so we pray for the women and men who are birth parents of children who have joined families through adoption.
We pray for the families who long to adopt and care for children living outside parental care. There are countless families who are coming alongside vulnerable children by welcoming them into their lives and homes. These families are taking steps of faith each day, and we pray for God to provide for them and sustain them, bringing hope for the journey that lies ahead.
We pray that God would grant wisdom to the appointed leaders and decision-making entities and agencies that work to protect children. No matter how difficult or challenging the circumstances may be, we ask that God would grant courage, clarity, and fruitfulness in their work to protect the best interests of children. We find hope in these words from Proverbs: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints” (2:6-8).
We pray, also, for wisdom in our work to serve well children and families. We are presented many paths to take in our work, and more often than not, the clarity needed in choosing the best path can be clouded. And so, it is in those days and seasons where true wisdom is needed and is sought. As James tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (1:5-6).
We pray for God to empower us to steward well the gifts, talents, and expertise entrusted to us. At Show Hope, we are made up of women and men who are committed to seeing God’s kingdom reflected through the work and mission set forth by our Founders, Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman. There are those of us who are rich in the knowledge of child and adoption advocacy. We have “creatives”—those God has gifted in the area of communication—and we have those who are excellent at forging and fostering relationships inside and outside our organization. And last but certainly not least, there are those who work “behind the scenes” in finance, technology, and policy, who guide us in the stewardship of best practices in managing operations. While we strive for excellence and integrity in all we do, it is God—whose hands and feet we seek to be—working in and through us.
We pray that God will continue to sustain our work. All that we are and all that we have are God’s and solely dependent upon him. In his gospel account, John boldly proclaims and reminds us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (1:1-5).
We pray for faith. In our personal daily walks—and in our work at Show Hope—we can be easily swayed, distracted, burdened, and afraid. If these things were not true, if these things were not experienced by all, why then would we need hope? Faith is what moves us forward in spite of the unknown, the anxiety, and the weight of life. It is a gift given only by God, and it is why we can also call out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
We pray that God would be glorified in all. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (10:31). This thought is what, ultimately, informs our daily work at Show Hope—whether in Executive Leadership, Programs, Development, Finance, Operations, or Communications. May God continue to guide us and shape us until the day he makes all things new.
