He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3
“God is not merely mending, not simply restoring a status quo.”
C.S. Lewis, “Miracles”
Have you ever thought that there was something that could not be fixed? A goal that was totally out of reach? A relationship beyond repair? You want something fixed, but how do you wait on restoration?
Some days I look around at my yard and house and start listing all the things that need to be done. Some things are not in the budget, some are not in my skill set, and others I just can’t get motivated to do or don’t have time to do. I want it all taken care of in an instant, but restoration takes time and perseverance. Whether you are looking at physical, mental or spiritual restoration in your life, including repairs and finance, we have to wait on God’s timing.
Give Me That Mountain
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Joshua 14:11
The Israelites were promised an inheritance, but they had to step out in faith to conquer the land first. They had to claim their inheritance. Caleb had been willing to conquer the land, but ten of the spies said it couldn’t be done. The consequence was that generation all died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb. Caleb had waited 40 years to claim his inheritance. God had promised him a mountain, and he told Joshua he was ready to take it.
Cast Your Cares on Him
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. . . But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
1 Peter 5:7, 10
When we are in the middle of a battle, it is easy to be overcome by doubt and despair. The enemy is always looking for ways to destroy us, to devour us like a lion. Yet, we serve a God who can shut the mouths of the lions as he did for Daniel. When you feel overwhelmed, cast your cares, your problems, your doubts on God. He loves you and never intended for you to carry the load alone. We share the yoke with Christ whose shoulders were strong enough to bear the weight of the sin of the world so that we didn’t have to. If he can restore mankind’s relationship with a Holy God, he can lighten the load you are carrying. Keep persevering through the battle or the storm and on the other side we will see the victory.
Rejoice in the Lord
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Joel 2:25
One day we will see the restoration we have longed for. Rejoice in the Lord now for what has already been promised. Some restoration will happen when we least expect it. Others may be in the distant future. Complete restoration is waiting on the return of Christ and eventually the restoration of all creation. The best way to battle doubt and feeling overwhelmed is to rejoice in the Lord, to praise God. When we do that, we turn our eyes from what is going on around us in the world and focus on the One who has called us to hope.
Try This!
If I am having a bad day and all I can see are the things that are broken or unfulfilled, I try to stop and take a moment to list the good things. I remember the beautiful sunrise, a glimpse of a wild creature in nature, and the things that God has already given me. When we count our blessings, we realize how truly blessed we already are and are reminded of the faithfulness of God. He who promised will fulfill it… in His timing.
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