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Restoration is my word for the year. Oh, how God has been bringing restoration!
Two years ago this month, God intervened in a heartbreaking situation in our family. We lost so much in ministry, in our family, and personally.
But God.
God removed the physical presence of evil that we inadvertently let invade our lives. Removing the effects of that evil from our heads and hearts would take much more time, and still isn’t fully complete. My thoughts and feelings relive too many events and snippets of conversations, move on to regrets and if onlies, then jump to fears of the future.
But the Holy Spirit doesn’t let me stay there as long as I have before. He is helping me feel what I have to feel, then work to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Restoration.
The wounds aren’t quite scars yet, but they are healing. The grief and shame over past trauma and decisions in ignorance/blindness still comes, but in smaller waves that are much shorter lived.
On the exact two year anniversary of my last day in youth ministry, and after much needed rest, God opened another door for ministry. The following Sunday, the guest evangelist at our church preached on revival with restoration as the final point in the process.
The preacher, a long-time friend, referred to Jeremiah 31:33. The title of the section in my Bible was “Restoration Promised.” He also preached on prayer, asking if anyone had ever been in a place to just pray, “Lord, help me.” Just before he mentioned that particular prayer, I thought of almost those exact words I prayed over and over during the hardest day of our crisis.
Coincidence?
No such thing. God gives these little moments of grace, just like manna, as I need them.
Grace upon grace. Unmerited favor.
Do I still question His role in all of the hurt? Sometimes. Oh, how I prayed and sought His wisdom and guidance, yet still failed so miserably!
But I choose to return to trusting Him through each time of questioning. God is good. He is working all things for good. And though I still don’t see all those things working for good, I do see His goodness and grace in so many big and small ways, both then and now.
Thank you, Jesus, for your love and care. Thank you that you never left our side. When all I could do was cry, “God, help us,” over and over, you answered.
Oh, dear child of God, wherever you are right now, remember to cry out to Jesus and hold on to hope of restoration! He is your only hope in times of crisis!
Look for those little moments of grace. He is providing them daily, like manna—what you, need when you need it. When you can’t understand, keep striving to trust, trust, trust through the questions and the pain.
God loves you. He is so, so good.
Is God bringing restoration to your heart? How is He showing His grace just as you need it? Leave a comment below to encourage others!
