Do you mourn lost years? Has your heart lost something of value? Deep down do you think of yourself as a failure? How would you describe your inner self, the part of you that you hide from others? You are not alone these are deep questions that plague many of us!
I have lost a lot in my life. Lost! A Lot! In those losses I began believing untrue statements about myself; I was a Lost me, a broken me, an angry me, a hungry me, a doubting me, an ashamed me, a failure me, and an afraid me.
Each loss is a wound; a heart and soul gash, yielded by a spiritual dagger, meant to steal, kill, and destroy what is spiritually true about us. These false statements are really spiritual accusations. But the truth is that part of our salvation, in Jesus, is the promise of restoration! And not just restoration, but power to make us strong, firm and steadfast. This is a powerful truth when we really believe it!
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10
I wish that I could write that I believed these truths and was fully restored immediately. But I found out that this is a process of faith working out the reality of my salvation. I love God’s Grace and His promise to restore and strengthen me. But what about the ‘after you suffered a little while’ part of the scripture? Honestly, these 5 words mean so much to me!
Suffered! Hold on… God, do you mean that time when I was rejected? Or when the vision you gave me was opposed? Perhaps you’re referring to that door that I thought was open to me and was literally shut in my face? Or how about that time when someone I thought was my friend talked behind my back and it resulted in 10 years of disappointment and wandering away from your purpose in my life?
I believe God said to me, and says to you: Yes, all of the above! And I will also restore those lost years too! Have faith! Have faith that stands up in the face of all that suffering and believe Me and the words that I say about you and for you:
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locusts, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust. My great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25
Do you see it? The devouring locusts in our lives have a purpose. Sure, it feels like suffering, but God is refining us and strengthening us so that He is seen as working in our lives! Believe Him, by continuing to move forward by faith in what you cannot yet see in your life…
He is the God of all Grace: Grace that restores and makes us firm and steadfast even in the midst of our loss and suffering, Amen!
“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3
I receive and agree that God is what’s best for me, us! Especially in times of trouble, turmoils and tests, “He restores”..Thank you for reminding me!
I am in a time of loss right now. I am also in a time of fear. I will cling to God, but sometimes my emotions get the best of me. I’m trying to stay focused on Jesus, but my heart still hurts. Thanks for this blog, as it has helped me so much this morning. Prayer is needed, and I also reach out for your prayers. I’ve been a Christian most of my life, and the Lord has done miracles in my life, but I still suffer this feeling of failure, loss and fear. Thanks for listening. Writing this down is so helpful for me.
Hi Donna, I am happy that this message from the Lord has blessed you. Thank you for sharing your heart and I will pray for continued faith-filled restoration in your life as you continue to give your emotions to the Lord in exchange for His truth to you. Bless you!!
Amen, God bless you!