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Encouragement for Foster Parents in the New Year

By January 2, 2025Blog
2024 has ended, and with it comes the anticipation of 2025. This past year brought one of the biggest surprises of my life—a pregnancy at 43 years old! Carrying my son during this Advent season has given me a fresh perspective on the birth of Jesus and what it means to wait, trust God, and embrace the unexpected.  Mary’s willingness to surrender to God’s plan, even when it likely felt overwhelming, encourages me and reminds me of the courage and faith required in your role as a foster parent.

 

I feel a heightened sense of expectancy as I enter 2025—not just for my family, but also for the ways God will work in the lives of the caseworkers, families, and children across our nation. And I’m thinking about you, too.

How are you doing?

I’m guessing this new year brings with it a variety of emotions. Are you feeling hopeful, anxious, weary, excited, uncertain, all of the above? Maybe your year has been filled with the challenges of navigating new and difficult family dynamics after welcoming a child, advocating for the many needs of the children in your care, or facing the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a child you’ve come to love deeply.
Likely, you’ve also experienced growth, experienced new dependence in your relationship with Christ, and have been reminded why you answered this call in the first place.
Whatever emotions you’re carrying into this new year, and whatever circumstances you find yourself in, one thing is certain: 2025 will bring its share of joys and sorrows and you don’t have to face any of it alone. God is with you. He sees you. He knows every unknown ahead and has promised to equip you for what He’s called you to do.
As a foster parent, you are uniquely aware of all that is beyond your control, and yet, you can be intentional about the things that are within your control—what you prioritize, how you spend your time, and what habits you feed.
Whether or not you are someone who loves making New Years goals or resolutions, I want to encourage you to make space in your schedule to be still, refreshed, and hear from God. You are pouring your life out for others, and you need to be filled back up each day.
I invite you to consider reflecting on and aligning your priorities, time, and habits with the One who first called you to this work in the first place.

Prioritize time with Jesus.

With each new day, prioritize time with Jesus. Slow down and be reminded of His character, instructed in the Truth of His Word, and experience His deep love for you! In the busyness and unpredictability of foster care, this can feel impossible—but it’s essential. Your relationship with God will sustain you through the highs and lows.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.  /  Psalm 28:7

Ask Yourself:

How would I describe my priorities? Does the way I live my life align with these? What might I need to stop or start to intentionally prioritize what matters most?

Trust God with your time.

Foster care pulls you in what can feel like a thousand directions, leaving little room for rest. But God invites us to trust Him with our time by embracing rhythms of Sabbath and rest.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.   /  Psalm 23:2-3

Ask Yourself:

Am I carving out time to recharge, knowing that I can’t pour from an empty cup? How can I intentionally create moments of joy and connection with my family–whether that’s game night with the whole family, one-on-one time with a child (taking a walk or getting ice cream together), or simply resting in God’s presence, reading his Word and growing in our relationship.

Reflect on your daily rhythms.

Take a step back and reflect on your daily rhythms. What habits have you intentionally cultivated and what have developed over time unintentionally? Are these drawing you closer to Christ and others or draining you and pulling you away from what matters most? Are there any new rhythms God might be calling you to embrace?

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.   /  Galatians 6:9

Maybe God is calling you to set healthier boundaries, say no to certain commitments, or step into something new. Whatever it is, remember that He cares deeply about you and who you are becoming. You are not what you do, you are His beloved child, and you need His strength to live the life He created you to live.

As you enter this new year, I encourage you to embrace your need for Jesus and live in surrendered dependence on Christ. Foster care is a journey that demands so very much of you, but it also brings you into partnership with our God who is writing redemptive stories every day. 
Let’s start this new year with open hands and expectant hearts, trusting that He is faithful and will sustain us through every joy, challenge, and step of obedience. You are not alone. Let’s move into this new year together, determined to love like Jesus loved and become more like Him. 
Jami Kaeb

Jami is the Founder and Executive Director of The Forgotten Initiative. Adoption, foster care, and advocacy were not part of Jami’s dreams for her life, but God changed her heart when He made her aware, and she is passionate about helping others become aware too! She and her husband Clint are parents to their seven children (five through adoption).

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