I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what to write for the first theme of 2021– restoration. All throughout my holiday I had ideas, but most of them were fuelled by what was happening around me. Often it was frustration from what I’d seen on social media regarding Covid and all the conspiracies, or my health taking its toll on me again despite prayer. After numerous versions I wasn’t happy with, I decided to take a break and go for a walk. And I did what I should’ve ages ago: I asked God what He thinks about restoration.
Brokenness Chips Away at Us
While walking and pondering restoration with God, I saw an image of a wooden human figurine. As life throws its curve balls, arrows and hurts at the figurine, it slowly gets chipped away. Sometimes small chips, sometimes larger chips. We try to super glue the pieces back together or replace it with other temporary fixes and materials. Often, it doesn’t work. We become hardened, sometimes bitter, and a whole array of symptoms of brokenness become our norm – brokenness has become the norm of the world. The brokenness we need healing from, is even celebrated and encouraged to some extent! But if we allow God in and surrender to Him, He picks up the chipped pieces and starts to put things together again as only He can. We’re still aware of where we were chipped and what chipped us, but rather than acting out in brokenness, it becomes a part of our testimony and a way we can relate to others and share God with them.
To add to the healing, when we spend time in complete surrender to God, when we speak to Him daily and let Him into every situation and hurt that comes with life – He adds His layer of protection over us. We may still get hurt, but His presence and peace become a constant in our life, making all those situations easier to handle and less likely to leave us feeling broken.
Defining Restoration
Restoration is defined in Merriam-Webster as “bringing back to a former position or condition // the restoration of peace; restitution; a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition.” Biblically it means to receive back more than what was originally lost, the final state becomes greater than the original condition.
The whole narrative of the Bible could be summed up as restoration. The whole point of the Jesus’ life was to restore us back to God. Jesus came to restore us from broken sinners, to co-heirs with Christ and children of God. Restoration is God’s desire and purpose for all of us – no matter our histories or present condition. When we surrender it all, we truly get to experience the magnificence of God in our lives!
Pursue Restoration!
2020, and maybe even 2021 so far, has damaged most of us in different ways. Losing financial security, losing a loved one, losing health, being hurt by people close to you, disappointment, divorce, losing faith in God’s promises, failing your own expectations… Whatever chipped you, the good news is that God wants to restore you. He wants to heal your hurts and restore you back to Him.
One way I know that I need to find restoration and be covered by Him on the daily is through the Word (Romans 12:2). When I get hurt or disappointed, I start living in my head and lose sight of God and His word. I need to intentionally, whether I feel like it or not, stay in routine and stay connected to Him. His Word breathes life (2 Timothy 3:16), it builds much-need faith centered on God’s character (Hebrews 11:1-3) and it builds security in your God-given purpose that blesses you and blesses others (Philippians 2:13).
No matter where you are in your walk right now, I’d like to encourage you to join me on a journey of delving deeper into the Word and uncovering more of God’s character this year. To surrender is hard when we have no idea what this year holds with Covid and economic decline still plaguing our world, but we do know that God has goodness planned for us and is waiting to give us peace, revelation and joy in ALL situations!
If you’re not sure where to begin, the YouVersion Bible app has some really great plans to get you started.
