The Road of Restoration

If you knew there was restoration on the other end of your situation, would it give you the hope to push through?

4 years ago, I was in a seemingly dead situation. & yet, the Lord whispered to me "I will restore you."

Let me set the scene: I stayed in a horrible relationship, after a called-off wedding, and I woke up daily with dread. In the midst of one of the darkest seasons I knew, I often wondered how I had arrived at this point in my life. I had fought for so long for something that I felt ultimately trapped in, but simultaneously trusted that the Lord had a plan And then came a whisper from the Lord, carrying a promise: "I will restore you." It was a glimmer of hope that pierced through the darkness, a reassurance that there was something beyond the pain and confusion I was experiencing. This whisper was not just a fleeting thought; it was a promise from a loving God who saw beyond my pain and confusion, assuring me that restoration was woven into the fabric of my story.

When I look back on that season, I remember Job. When reading scripture, we can often read quickly through the Old Testament, but let me encourage you: when you pause to really reflect on the Old Testament stories, there's a lot we can learn from. The story of Job is one of resilience and unwavering faith in the face of unimaginable challenges. Despite losing his wealth, health, and loved ones, Job maintained his faith in God's goodness and power to restore. Job 42 captures his response:

Then Job replied to the Lord: 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Even in the dark valley I was in, I definitely didn't experience the level of pain that Job had. So to look at his level of faith and his level of trust in the Lord's goodness is inspiring. Job's story reminds you to take your eyes off of yourself and onto God. In the moment when the Lord whispering restoration to me, I had to do just that. But here's the thing, you don't see restoration as possible when you're in the dark. You just have to trust in it.

After the Lord spoke restoration over me, I began to walk in it. I trusted that if He said it, He'll do it. But in all honesty, for a year following that word, I tried to make restoration happening in the way that I thought it should; the way I imagined it would. It didn't take long for me to see that His restoration had to partner with my surrender. 4 years later, I'm married, living a safe and joy filled life - something I dreamt of for a while - but I had to get out of my own way. More often than not, I wonder at the way God works. Even more, I'm learning every day that God is a restorer. He takes the dead things and brings them back to life. He takes the forgotten dreams and speaks hope over them. He takes the buried desires and giftings and turns them into His glory.

Restoration is not a mere destination; it's a journey. It's a road that takes us through the darkest valleys and leads us to the mountaintops of renewal. Restoration is not solely about recovering what was lost, it's about embracing the growth and wisdom gained through the process. Even more, you'll find that when you listen to the whispers of God, and get out of your own way, He'll lead you to even more than you could have ever imagined.

Job 42:12 "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part."