Hello everyone! I recently spoke with a friend who has given the last 6 years of her life to someone important to her only to be repaid with evil. In the end, she was given no choice but to walk away. Six years of her life have been stolen from her - six years that were as precious to her as they were to anyone else. This has caused her to question many things including her sanity some days. I told her that I believe God gives us back the years people steal from us - in other words He restores those years. The word "restore" means to bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation); to reinstate. He will make things better than they were before, better than they were when we thought they were great and nothing could be better! Better than we could ever imagine!
I believe these years were not wasted at all. She did what was right, despite how the other person chose to respond. She learned more about herself and I believe she will learn more about God before her healing is complete.
You might ask, if He is in the restoring business, why didn't he restore their relationship? The answer is simple, it takes two people to want a relationship restored. If only one person wants to right things in the relationship, it will not be restored. Yes, God can restore anything and I mean anything, however, both people have to engage Him in this endeavor as He will never make anyone do anything or force His will on them. My friend wanted restoration, the other person did not and continues to repay her with evil. God can't do much with a person whose heart is in that condition unless they want to change. I know this may sound oversimplified but it is truth. I experienced the same things with my late husband - an unwillingness to change and let go of the evil in his life. He tied God's hands and he tied mine as well.
What does the future hold for my friend? The restoration of the years that were stolen from her and many, many good things! God can and will also restore her heart and her mind so that the evil of what has been done will no longer burden her. I believe he will restore you, even if the other person ties His hands where your relationship is concerned. What is it that you need Him to restore today? Remember you are only responsible for your own restoration, you and God working together. You are not responsible for the restoration of another person or their choices.
I will leave you with two verses to ponder today:
Jeremiah 29:11; For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.
Joel 2:25a; I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
The "locusts" in this 2nd verse refer to evil people who have harmed you or unjust things that have been done to you.
He will repay and He can and will restore! He has good plans for you! He is always in the restoration business! I have been restored! You can be restored too!
Living in His restoration,
Elizabeth