RESTORING THE LOST THINGS

 

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

 

RESTORING THE LOST THINGS

Jer 30:17

17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

 

Joel 2:25-27

25 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.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

 

          I have been thinking about the word restoration for several days now. In our first verse the Hebrew word is ‘alah and it means “to rise up.” In the second verse the Hebrew is shalam and it means “to be safe in mind, body, or estate.”

 

Advancing years have stolen several things. Sleep, health, mobility, independence, and purpose have all diminished. Although grateful for what remains, I long for the restoration of certain lost things. Many of my peers are experiencing similar circumstances. Some are gone. I will see them again a bit later.

 

          Nationally, we find ourselves as Hanani found Jerusalem in Nehemiah chapter one. The walls were broken down and there was rubbish everywhere. The people despaired and courage had been stolen from them.

 

          The first thing to be restored was a broken heart caused by an honest evaluation of the situation. Next came courage and then resolve. It would not be easy to rebuild and there would be opponents to this restoration.

 

          Nehemiah could have prayerfully waited for God to act in mercy, but he would have missed understanding that God was already acting and was enlisting Nehemiah as a key player. Often, we are the answer to our own prayers.

 

Lord, let us say with the prodigal, “I will rise and go to my father.” Let us begin today to receive Your restoration. AMEN