Is the Cost of Adoption Worth It?

By Trisha Priebe May 23, 2018 3 Min Read

Start a conversation about adoption and it will (likely) take no time at all for the discussion to turn to money and “cost.”

It is no secret that adoption is expensive, but is it worth it?

Here are 3 thoughts—

1. Adopting will cost you something.

There is no way around it. If you believe God is leading you to adopt, you must also believe He is leading you to make sacrifices to make it happen–financially and otherwise. But the same could be said about other major life decisions.

Getting married, buying a home, giving birth, relocating–all of these decisions come with costs; they simply aren’t listed neatly in a pamphlet provided to you by a social worker.

Love always costs.

Even the God of the universe Who owns everything had to make sacrifices to bring you into His family. Here is what your adoption cost Jesus—

“But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

2. Not adopting will cost you something.

It’s expected–and certainly responsible–to consider the cost of adoption when deciding whether or not to pursue it. But have you ever considered the cost of not adopting? Adoption fees in the U.S. can fall between $20,000 and $40,000 depending on the situation, but the cost of not obeying God if He’s led you to adopt?—that’s disastrous.

When God tells us to do something, the cost of disobedience will always outweigh the cost of obedience. This says nothing of what not adopting will cost a waiting child.

Our ‘no’ will always cost orphaned and vulnerable children more than our ‘yes’ will ever cost us.

“Among all the variables and unknowns of adoption, the finances are certainly one of the most destabilizing and unnerving pieces of the process. Having a partner like Lifesong to work with our church to administer our grant and manage our entire adoption fund was beyond a blessing.” —Drew and Taylor

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3. Where God leads, God always provides.

Talk to families who have adopted and you will often hear a common theme—God provides in unique and incredible ways.

From sudden promotions at work to higher-than-expected tax refunds to unlikely people choosing to donate … many, many adoptive families can give testimony to the fact that God alone provided for them to afford the adoption fees. In fact, many families can’t tell you where the money came from, but it was always there when they needed it.

This isn’t to say sacrifice isn’t required. But it is to say that choosing to care for the children close to God’s heart will always get God’s attention. It takes obedience and faith the size of a mustard seed.

Yes, adoption is costly. But asking God to lead and then watching Him provide is a priceless opportunity.