Restoration by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed” (Joel 2:25-26).
I remember only taking three vacations as a child. As a pre-teen, I traveled to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico with my grandmother, and when I was in high school I was invited to the beach a couple of times by my friends and their families. At the beginning of a new school year, I never had much to say when asked to share about “my summer vacation.” Because of financial constraints, I remained at home during school breaks.
While those were impoverished years, I look at my life now and see how God has restored stability and has provided opportunities to travel like never before. He knows I have an adventurous spirit and that I love to see new places, like southern Spain—my most recent stop. As I admired the mix of mountains and sea near Marbella, I said thank you to God for this place, the ability to travel, and for the gift of His creation. I appreciate the beauty of Spain and the peaceful feeling that I am experiencing here.
What I have found is that our heavenly Father wants to give us the desires of our heart but He first wants us to devote our hearts to Him. Since I have made Him a priority in my life, He has blessed me, as well as our family. It doesn’t mean our lives are devoid of problems, but overall, life is good and the presence of God is with us.
You may be surprised to know that I do not regret the first seventeen years of my life as a fatherless child with a troubled mother. Without that scenario, I might not have sought a relationship with my Heavenly Father. I also might not have been as appreciative of my life now. I take nothing for granted—food on the table or the roof over my head. Whether I am home or away, it is all a part of God’s provision, as well as His restoration.
How has God restored your life? Do you still need restoration?
Lord, I want to experience Your restoration of my life. Help me to delight in You and place You first, before anything or anyone else. AMEN.