Do you know the land most people avoid, the realm that many fear? We whisper its name with hushed breath, we build tall walls about our homes to keep it away.
The Unknown. That strange land, of which we’ve heard rumors of great mountains and valleys, bustling cities and quiet streams, but such mist lies over it that we doubt their existence.
Because we fear change. We fear difference. We fear the unknown. Because we can’t see precisely where our road may lead us. We can’t hold our fates in our hands. We feel helpless, out of our own control — and we hate it.
How little we realize we hold no power even here.
But every now and then, either stepping willingly or shoved, we enter this realm. And when we do, glorious adventures can unfold.
I’ve told you before of our own adoption story. But what amazes me is how normal it now looks. Before, I was worried about how I would manage my time with a little one and how on earth we could even handle another pair of feet running about and paperwork and goodness gracious China is far away and what if he’s too different and what if I’m too old to connect and what if — never stopping to consider that what if none of those would matter.
Because here I sit, in the dawn of unknown. I now see what it all looks like. I type at my computer, hearing the singing OOOOOOOH’S of a three year old pretending he’s a whale. In a moment I’ll go help make lunch, cutting off the crusts of his sandwich without second thought. I’ll receive a goodnight kiss as he heads off to nap and I head off to work. I’ll come back to a black-haired head bobbing up at the window, grinning delightedly and exclaiming, “Bell-wup!” (He speaks so well, yet my name still keeps its babyish suffix). I’ll swing him up on my hip, though with his growing weight and height that won’t last long, and listen to his stories, already full of adventure. All of it seems so normal, so natural, as if this is the way it has always been.
And I could have missed all of this. I could have missed it, if we didn’t step out into the land of the unknown.
Those terrifying struggles? Where are they now? Those great fears? They’ve faded away. What felt like it would be a giant leap, a giant sacrifice — is now precisely how things are always supposed to be.
And that is a testimony to His faithfulness, to the reality of His truth. So often we want to tell God, “No, I can’t do this, it’s scary, not me!” But He tells us, “No, this is what you were made for.” He never tells us to go somewhere He hasn’t gone already. He goes before us, He is ever with us, and His way is always best.
The unknown seems terrifying. But, you see, once you step into it — it’s no longer the unknown. Once you climb it, the unsurmountable mountain is no longer that. The unimaginable simply becomes reality.
And that’s where our story is at right now. I can’t imagine life without Xan-man, and I can hardly remember how we lived without him. He’s ours, through and through. His laughter, his stubbornness, his cuteness, his story-telling — yes, he’s certainly an Ingalls. (Not that I’m at all biased.) We’re dancing in the dawn of the unknown, because it’s His light that illuminates it. He promised, I’ll never leave or forsake you. And we know with certainty that His way is the best way. He’s proven it again and again.
So now the unknown has become the familiar. The mist has faded away. All is normal once again. But that’s no reason to get comfortable. He hasn’t called us to live complacent lives in the familiar. So perhaps, it’s time to move further up and further in along this path again. Don’t let fear hold you back. Don’t let uncertainty of the future. He hasn’t called you to sit in a comfortable, easy life in the midst of the comfortable, easy familiarity.
He’s called us to Do. He’s called us to Go. So that’s what we’re doing. Our family is starting the adoption process again, to weave one more story, one more thread into our lives.
We’re stepping into the Unknown again, yes. But we’re following Him who already knows it.
Will you do the same?
Amen… my sister and precious granddaughter! God has blessed you with a wonderful talent. Love ya
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This is so true, that the unknowns become knowns and the mountains that looked impossible are eventually scaled. And everything you thought would be crazy and different becomes…just normal.
Also, CONGRATULATIONS on starting the adoption process again! So exciting!! 🙂
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Precisely! Thank you! We’re excited to see how it goes!
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This was a wonderful post! The unknown doesn’t have to be scary if we rely on the Lord!
https://tizziestidbits.wordpress.com
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Amen!
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I love this so so much. “We’re dancing in the dawn of the unknown because His light illuminates it.” ❤ And you're adopting again?? That's so awesome!! Let me know how I can be praying specifically!
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Thank you so much! ❤ Right now just for wisdom and direction going forward, as we’re here back at the very beginning again.
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This post hits home so hard right now, I can’t even start to explain. But, I just finished teaching piano lessons for the second time, and I was struggling with an all-to-familiar feeling of failing expectations, doubting my ability to teach and adapt and handle stressful situations with my anxiety issues. The Lord brought me through, and I have so much to be thankful for. I really really so much needed this right now today, Belle. Thank you so much! I will be reading this again, many times. Have a beautiful day!
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I’m so very glad! Don’t forget, He who has began a good work in you will bring it to completion. You are in Christ, so when He looks on you, God can say, This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased. Have courage dearheart! I’m praying for you!
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Wow, so excited for your family! I’m so glad I got to see you all at Bible Bee! I can’t wait to see how God leads you in this next adoption journey!
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Thank you, we’re very excited! It was great getting to see you, I wish we had had more time. Nationals is never as long as I need it to be!
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Wonderful post!!
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Thanks!
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This was so sweet! On a slightly unrelated note, is the title of this post from the song “Dancing in the Dawn” by Tossing Copper? I LOVE that song, and no one has ever heard of it
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Yes, it is! I actually just recently found that song.
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