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RESTORATION

The theme for our reflection is restoration. Restoration is the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition. God promised Israel restoration after a long period in exile. Israel’s disobedience led them into captivity. The Prophet Isaiah was called by God to warn them to repent but when they failed, they found themselves in captivity. Like their deliverance from the Egyptians, God assures them through Isaiah 52 of His deliverance and restoration from the Babylonians.

We seek restoration after we have experienced retrogression, calamity or grief. One of the key benefits of having a relation with God and making Him the anchor of our lives is that He brings restoration into our broken situations. Although the people had disobeyed Him and were in exile for their trangression the Lord promises them restoration when Isaiah said “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” (Isaiah 52:1-3). In other words, Israel was told to have faith in the Lord  and be hopeful for their restoration in the Him. Oftentimes, we lose hope or despair when we find ourselves in challenging situation. Suffering blurs our faith and fear casts doubt in our minds about the restoration power of the Lord.

Dear friend, the Lord says  “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremia 32:27) We are further assured by Isaiah of the Lord’s mercy and restoration power when he said “…they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31). The Lord is merciful and does not take delight in our destruction therefore “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7) Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God, we acknowledge our frailty and brokenness before you, graciously forgive us our sins, restore us and make us whole again. Amen.