Restoration

When we are in our trials, prolonged as they may be, we hope for restoration.  The Lord talks about His restoration plan for our lives in Isaiah 54, and begins the process by bestowing His people with beauty.

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted.  I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.  I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.” (Is 54:12)

Beauty and precious stones signify worth.  Afflicted people need to know their worth to God before they can be comforted.  Yet, beauty is on the outside.  If God were concerned only with appearances, He could stop His restoration process after having made us beautiful, comforted by our great worth to Him and our place on this earth.  But Man is not completed by beauty alone.  God brings His strength into our inner being by matching foes against our character whom we can dominate.

“If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing: whoever attacks you will surrender to you.” (vs 15)

It is God’s plan that we prevail against satan and refute his lies.  Our final victory is not in our comfort, nor our worth, but in refuting our enemy’s lies with God’s truth.

“And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc: no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me.” (vs 17)

In seeking God’s restoration for our lives, let us not seek after comfort and self- worth as evidence that we are whole again.  Let us build up inner strength by confronting lies and accusations with truth.  Amen.