"He restores my soul ('whole person')" - Psalm 23:3
'restore' = 'to return someone or something which has been lost '
'to bring back from ruin to a former state'
Our God wants to renew, refresh and restore us continually but we have to want that and do our part - Isaiah 40:31 - we have to "expect, look for and hope in Him" (Ampl.)
Three people who were restored:
1. Naomi had to leave her homeland, lost her husband and then her two sons (Ruth 1: 1-5). When she and Ruth returned to the land of Judah and Ruth married Boaz, Naomi had someone to care for her in her old age, a daughter-in-law who loved her more than any sons and a grandchild in the genealogy of Christ (Ruth 4:13-17)
2. Joseph went from being the favourite in his father's house to being thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers, sold into slavery, unjustly accused of a crime and put into prison. (Gen 37:12 - 41:36) When God gave him the wisdom to interpret Pharoah's dreams, he ended up in a position of greater power and influence than he could ever have had at home and gained the love and respect of his brothers. (Gen 41:1 - 45:28)
3. Job was a great man (Job 1:1-3) who lost his property, his children and his health (Job 1:13 - 2:10) because fear gave the enemy access to his life (Job 3:25) but who ended up with far more than he started out with (Job 42: 10-17).
Any disastrous situation submitted to God will be turned around. God always has a plan - nothing takes Him by surprise!
We first read about the greatest restoration plan in Genesis 3:15. The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world was God's means of restoring lost mankind to Himself.
Compare: a brand new piece of furniture straight out of the joiner's workshop
TO
an old, dirty, dusty table, chipped and damaged put into the hands of a craftsman who cleans it, removes all the scratches, repairs what is broken and polishes it till it gleams.
Which one is more wonderful and amazing?
Each one of us is like the old table before we come into a relationship with Jesus. If we allow Him into every area of our lives, He will do a perfect restoration work and make us more beautiful than we could ever have been without Him.