When God Restores

The story of God is the story of redemption. This truth is echoed in everything God does. But there are days when our lives seem to tell a different story. Days when we look for God but He seems to be hiding, when we pray and we don’t see answers, or when our pain feels stronger than our purpose. In these days we need to know that God is not finished yet.

Restoration and redemption take place out of lack, pain, falling short, or turning away. Our God can take what is broken and make it beautiful, He can bring hope out of despair, and He can make the empty places full.

Do you believe this?

Whether God is speaking through the Bible, through creation, or through the lives of His people – God is always telling the story of redemption. No matter your situation or circumstance, your life is a canvas for God to tell this story. Your problems and your pain are the perfect backdrop for Him to work. While we may never completely understand the struggles we walk through, we can know for certain God is at work and He is speaking.

Over the last month, we have been studying the book of Joel. The people of Israel faced mass destruction and spiritual deadness, but then they turned to God. As they cried out, God restored. As we close out looking at the book together, I want to point you to two truths we learn about God’s work of restoration:

1. When God restores, it brings Him glory.

In Joel chapter two, we see a shift. The people move from a place of repentance and crying out to God to place of restoration and renewal. In the very same place as their devastation, they now find plenty and satisfaction.

As they experience this new abundance, God reveals a deeper purpose for His work, “Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other, and My people will never with to shame.” (Joel 2:27 NASB) God’s restoration was about more than fulfilling the personal needs and desires of His people, it was about His glory. He wanted everyone to know He was the God of Israel.

The same is true for your story. When God works in you, it is about way more than your personal satisfaction. God wants your life to tell His story.

2. Where God restores, His Spirit is poured out.

Listen to how God describes what will happen in the midst of His people’s renewal, “Then I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28) Wow! God’s power would not only be seen through how He worked, but also how He worked through His people.

This experience Joel spoke about was not limited to the people of his day. Fast forward to time right after Jesus left His disciples and ascended into heaven. The Bible tells us that all the believers were gathered together in one place when the Holy Spirit descended on them. Then Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, delivered a powerful sermon. In his opening statements, he points to these very words from the prophet Joel to explain what the believers were experiencing.

When Jesus died on the cross, everything seemed hopeless. Then from the darkest moment in history, God’s story of redemption sounded out. Jesus conquered the grave; He is alive. Just like in the days of Joel, God’s restoration came with an outpouring of His Spirit.

As God does the work of redemption, people are changed. Hearts that were hard are now soft. Lives that were in bondage are now free. Complaining spirits are replaced with joy. Disappointment is turned to hope.

Our pain and brokenness are an opportunity for us to know God more. When we press into Him and seek His face, we will see Him work in a new way. Then our lives will point to God’s story of redemption and overflow with the power of His Spirit.