Restoration

 By: Lauren Thomas

You may not consciously realize it, but we are all longing for restoration. It may be a relationship, or health, or peace, or any number of things. The desire for restoration has been built into our very souls. According to Google, restoration is “the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.” A more biblical definition you could not find! Restoration is a whole-Bible theme: us being restored to God (owner), us being restored to Eden (place), us being restored to glory (condition).

When we feel emotionally drained, we long for restoration. When surprise expenses drain our emergency funds, we long for restoration. When our time is eaten by unexpected setbacks, we long for restoration. When relationships break down, we long for restoration. When we feel repeated defeat, we long for restoration. When we are disappointed, we long for restoration.

 

We don’t deserve it. We are not owed it. But we long for it, desire it, hope for it.

 

We, and all creation, wait for it, according to Romans 8:

 

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:18-25 ESV

 

I don’t know that any of us wait for it with true patience. Sometimes the waiting can dim the hope, or strengthen the disappointment. But my encouragement to you today is that God himself will restore at the right time.

 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

 

Don't minimize or dismiss reality: we all suffer. It's a condition of living in this fallen world. But there is something for us on the other side of that suffering. Wait for restoration. Take courage and wait for it.

 

Wait for the Lord;

    be strong, and let your heart take courage;

    wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 ESV

 

Reflection:

Name one thing you long to be restored.

Sometimes, God brings us partial restoration this side of Heaven (miracles, healing, reconciliation). Whatever you want to be restored, ask God to restore it.

How can you be strong, take courage, and wait for His restoration?

 

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

    it speaks of the end

    and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

    it will certainly come

    and will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:3 NIV