I Didn’t Sign Up for This | Hope for Difficult Seasons with Sarah Frazer
If you’ve ever thought this wasn’t part of the plan, or that this wasn’t how it was supposed to be, and if you didn’t sign up for this, chances are your story has shifted in some unexpected way. Perhaps your world has been turned completely upside down, and you’re wondering how you are going to move forward. If so, you’re not alone. My guest, Sarah Frazer, has experienced this and more. She had a decade-long struggle with depression, went through a challenging adoption process, and had to leave the mission field after two years.
Sarah Frazer is a writer and Bible study teacher. She’s married to Jason and is a mother to five children. She has a background in missionary work and Bible teaching. It’s her passion to encourage women to start today with Bible study and prayer. She’s also the author of a new book called I Didn’t Sign Up for This, a book about journeying through life and trusting in God’s plans for you despite plot twists and turns.
In this episode, we discuss the challenges of raising special needs children, how interruptions are actually God’s way of working, and how to resist disillusionment and discontent. We also talk about Moses and how he faced many of these similar challenges. God’s promises are personal, and his purposes are never thwarted. Like Moses, you may not have signed up for this, but God sees the path that you’re on and will see you through it.
In my Convo with Sarah Frazer:
- [02:25] Sarah has been married about 17 and 1/2 years, and has 5 children. The oldest is 15 and the youngest is 8. Her youngest two children have been adopted from China.
- [04:44] The family got to spend two and a half years living in Honduras where Sarah’s husband set up a surgical center.
- [06:06] I Didn’t Sign Up For This is Sarah’s book.
- [06:31] Sarah’s book journey began in January of 2020 as they just arrived in Honduras and ended up under complete lockdown.
- [08:50] The adoption journey was difficult, but became more challenging when they ended up with a child with severe special needs. This was another layer to the stress and overwhelm of being a mom.
- [09:49] When our story shifts sometimes we question God. Sarah turned to scripture for answers.
- [09:58] “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” – Psalm 90:1
- [10:33] This verse was written by Moses. Sarah always connected with Moses, because he never really had a home.
- [12:38] How to reframe divine interruptions.
- [14:41] There comes a point when you have to admit to God that this is something you’re not going to be able to fix.
- [17:50] Sarah shares the story of how they ended up going back to China and adopting another baby.
- [20:21] They eventually got to a place where they were okay with the unknown.
- [22:14] “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
- [22:18] “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” – Romans 8:29
- [23:31] We remember the times we fail and the times we struggle.
- [26:21] Disillusionment is a disconnect from God. We envision what we think our lives will be like and when it doesn’t turn out like that we need to grieve.
- [29:31] “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” – Isaiah 43:2
- [31:51] There was a season in Moses’s life where he was completely overwhelmed. Every day he would go outside the camp and meet with God. He also delegated responsibility.
- [36:50] Prayers and Psalms are great to hold on to and meditate during the day.
- [38:26] There is nothing wrong with saying no to things.
- [41:27] God keeps meeting us exactly where we are even if we didn’t sign up for it.
- [42:31] God is both sovereign and good. These two things are what give us the hope and confidence to go through whatever life has for us.
