Absolutely! Adoption is the means by which all believers enter into the family of God.

For as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:14-17

Even though the Bible uses the word "adopt" only about four times, it refers to the concept of adoption surprisingly often. And when it does, the Bible always presents adoption as a positive, gracious act that is part of God's plan.

Moses, for example, was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:1-10). His adoption, though sad for his Israelite parents, was part of God's overall plan for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Esther was also an adoptee. We are told that when her parents died, Mordecai, her cousin, took her as his own daughter and adopted her (Esther 2:15). This adoption also led to a wonderful deliverance of the people of God!

And in a way, wasn't Jesus an adoptee? Joseph, who raised Jesus as his own, was not His biological father. Adopting parents can learn a great deal from Joseph! This man of God was truly unselfish; he was willing to rearrange his whole life in obedience to God. Joseph gladly accepted Jesus, providing Him with all the love, encouragement, and guidance that a son needs from a father.

But the best and most important biblical adoption story of all is that there is only one way for us to enter the Kingdom of God -- we must become God's adopted children through Jesus Christ. The New King James version expresses this relationship beautifully:

Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise and glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:6

Isn't this incredible? God chooses us to be His adopted children, not because He has to, but because He wants to! In adopting us through Christ, He shows the depth of His love. What a delightful model this presents to those who want to adopt a child as their son or daughter.

For Christians struggling with infertility or who want to enlarge their family circle, adoption is not second best. It is simply one way that God in His wisdom can choose for us to be parents. Whether one becomes a parent biologically or through adoption, the fact is that children are not a right -- they are a gift from God:

Children are a heritage from the Lord.
Psalm 127:3

What about individual Christians struggling with their choices?

Is it biblical for a birthparent to make an adoption plan for a child? Does God intend that infertile couples remain childless, or should they apply for adoption? Such questions are matters of individual conscience and must be decided through a process of prayerful decision making which seeks God's guidance and will.

One thing is certain. When birthparents make the decision to place their child with a believing family, God works in and through the process. Not only does He bless the adoptive family with a long-awaited (and prayed-for) child, He also blesses the birthparents with the peace of knowing that their child one day will have every opportunity to claim his or her rightful place as an adult member of God's Kingdom.

The child will be blessed, too, with the security of knowing that God has been watching over and protecting him or her since before birth (Jeremiah 1:5). God may even use the process of adoption to advance His Kingdom. Who knows what eternal plans He has for that child?