What does RESTORE look like for me?

While pondering the word "restore," I did my usual research for the definition of the word. Here is what Merriam Webster has to say: 

To give back or return; to put or bring back into existence or use; to bring back or put back into a former or original state; and to put again in possession of something. 

Then I went to Scripture to see what it says. As expected, the Bible has a lot to say about restoration. 

"But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'" ~ Jeremiah 30:16-17 NIV

 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." ~ Psalm 51:10-12 NIV

"How much longer will you forget me, Lord? Forever? How much longer will you hide yourself from me? How long must I endure trouble? How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night? How long will my enemies triumph over me? Look at me, O Lord my God, and answer me. Restore my strength; don't let me die. Don't let my enemies say, 'We have defeated him.' Don't let them gloat over my downfall. I rely on your constant love' I will be glad, because you will rescue me. I will sing to you, O Lord, because you have been good to me." ~ Psalm 13 GNB

 "I have so many enemies, Lord, so many who turn against me! They talk about me and say, 'God will not help him.' But you, O Lord, are always my shield from danger; you give me victory and restore my courage. I call to the Lord for help, and from his sacred hill he answers me. I lie down and sleep, and all night long the Lord protects me. I am not afraid of the thousands of enemies who surround me on every side. Come, Lord! Save me, my God! You punish all my enemies and leave them powerless to harm me. Victory comes from the Lord - may he bless his people." ~ Psalm 3 GNB

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong - not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but 

only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority - the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." ~ 2 Corinthians 13:5-11 NIV

Ever since receiving my word for this year, I have pondered and prayed what this means for me. What do you have for me, Lord? What am I to focus on? When I pull the viewfinder back, there are many parts of my life that could use some restoration. Where does this start? Relationships that are on the outs? Health concerns? Finances? Our fixer-upper home that still requires a great deal of work? 

What about looking through a spiritual lens? Where am I in my walk with God? Does that need restoration? As one of our pastors spoke last weekend, "Am I all in?" Oddly enough, there is a great deal of focus on David of the Old Testament in my life recently. Talk about some restoration time period. That could entail a whole other blog post. Maybe another time. What I will point out is that David was the "runt of the litter." He was the one of Jesse's family least expected to do great things, yet God said he was a man after God's own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) I pause to reflect on my heart and recall so many of my struggles in recent years and realize how my heart has been hurt and the scars that are there. I am beginning to think that part of this restoration could be simply of.....my heart. I have recently been reminded of a time in my life many years ago when I became severely depressed, even to the point of considering taking my own life. I felt that God had thrown me out, no longer wanting me. Telling me that I was worthless. While the depression ultimately lifted and I, fortunately, never acted on my thoughts of self-harm, I began moving forward again. Though I continued to carry painful scars from years of hurt in so many aspects of my life. Could I dare to think, or even hope, that this restoration could be God restoring me and helping me to become the person He created me to be? That the plans He has had for my life will finally be coming to fruition? I wonder.

What I DO know for a fact is that God never wastes a step, so my life experiences, pain, hurt, successes....None of it is for naught. I wait to see how my Father will make use of all of it.

all contents (c) 2016 Laura Inglis