GOD IS OUR RESTORER

Psalm 126 speaks of God's restoration of the nation of Israel after the 70-year captivity in Babylon. God allowed the nation of Israel to be taken to Babylon as slaves and let the Babylonians destroy their city and temple in Jerusalem. To capture the intensity of this Psalm, one must imagine what it would have been like to have lived in the Babylonian captivity and not have the freedom to worship God in the way they were accustomed to. They weren't able to celebrate their annual religious festivities. People were longing for freedom and to live in peace and joy. So when the people of Israel were allowed to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple after 70-year captivity, they were filled with joy. Psalm 126:1-3 says, "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.' The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." When the people of Israel arrived in Jerusalem to begin rebuilding it, they saw the devastation that had happened in their land. The fields were like a desert, for it had been abandoned. The houses and buildings were burned, including the temple. Thus, they began to pray to God for the restoration of the land. Psalm 126:4 says, "Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev."

Psalm 126 reminds us that our God is our restoration. God can turn our hard times into great happiness. We may not seem able to rejoice after difficult circumstances, but God can restore what we have lost. It may not be exactly the same as what we have lost, but God can help us to move on and live a new life. There is always sunshine after a severe storm. The Jews who went into captivity lost everything. They lost their homes, families, and their freedom. It is similar to the Holocaust during WWII, when the Nazi put millions of Jews in concentration camps and massacred thousands of them. But those who survived lived their lives with a sense of purpose to restore their lives and appreciate life. As a result, many of them became very successful business owners and became wealthy. God can restore us no matter how broken we are. He is the only one capable of transforming ashes into beauty. 

God is our forever restorer. He can restore our hard times into great joy. Let us keep on trusting our God and keep our eyes on Him. He holds the sunshine at the end of our life's storms. Never surrender, but keep on living for God, for in due time His restoration will come like a dawn—a brand new day.  

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Who can restore my life? Do I believe that God can restore my life? Why is it important for me not to give up? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, You are the God of my restoration. No matter how my life changes, You can restore my wholeness, even through my mistakes and failures. You can restore and heal what I have destroyed and make a new life in me. Thank you for being my God who always loves and accepts me. Please help me to trust You and fix my eyes on You today. In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.