God’s nature is so merciful and kind. He always wants the best for his children, so he is always willing to restore everything we have lost to us. In this article, we will explore the meaning of Restoration, examples of restoration in the bible, how God restores us and prayers for restoration.
Biblical Meaning of Restoration
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, restoration is “an act of bringing something back to its former glory”. The biblical definition of restoration is similar to this; we can say that restoration is when God decides to restore us (or something we have lost) to its former glory. Restoration can also mean repair, fixing, reinstating, replacing, re-establish, and many more. God showed us the true meaning of restoration by sending his son to die for our sins so we may be made right with God.
God has promised restoration in many parts of the scripture. I have experienced God’s restoration in many areas of my life. God is ever faithful to fulfil his words unto us, and this I am confident of; he never fails. God can restore us in several ways depending on what we have lost, including spiritual restoration, financial restoration, mental restoration, restoration of joy and hope, and many more.
Examples of Restoration in the Bible
There are many examples of restoration in the bible, which are majorly biblical characters Restored to their former glory.
- Job’s Fortune Restored by God
Job was a very wealthy and possibly influential man in his days (Job 1:1-5). He was upright and served God diligently, and God was proud of him. One day, God proudly spoke about Job and the devil wasn’t having any of that (Job 1:6-12). He countered God by saying Job was only serving God because of the protection and wealth God had given him. I imagine God laughed at the devil, and in confidence, he asked the devil to do anything he wanted to Job, but he wasn’t permitted to touch his soul.
The devil afflicted Job by killing his children, destroying his wealth, allowing him to have a skin disease and then his wife left him (Job 1:13-22). Job never cursed God, nor did he sin against God through all his turmoil, but God Restored him. He had doubled his wealth, and God gave him more children(Job 42:10-17).
- Naaman’s Skin restored like a Young Child
Naaman was the captain of the army of the king of Aram (2 kings 5:1). He was wealthy, influential, and strong, but he had leprosy. His leprosy was a limitation; he wouldn’t be able to relate with people the way he wanted, nor would he be able to enjoy his wealth and fame.
One day, his maid recommended that he visits the prophet Elisha who was anointed of God, and she believed he would find his healing there(2 kings 5:2-5). Naaman went to see the prophet Elisha, and he asked him to bathe in the Jordan river. Naaman hesitated but later bathed in the river due to his maid’s encouragement. His skin was restored, and the bible recorded that “his skin was like a young child” ( 2 Kings 5: 13-14 ).
- Jacob Renamed Israel
When Rebekah was pregnant, God told her that Jacob, the younger son, would be a more powerful nation than his brother Esau ( Genesis 25: 22-23 ). One day, Jacob stole his brother’s blessings, and this caused a lot of unrest in the family, so he had to flee ( Genesis 27 ). While he was away, he served his uncle for a long time before he eventually regained his freedom and decided to return to his home country .
While Jacob was on his way home, he got to Bethel and wrestled with an angel till daybreak. The angel blessed him and changed his name from Jacob to Israel ( Genesis 32:22-32 ). His destiny was restored unto him, and he began to prosper exceedingly, even during the famine.
- Samson Regains his Strength
Samson was a Nazarene, and a judge of Israel anointed with power and strength ( Judges 13:24 ). He fell into the hands of the Philistines and became a source of ridicule. At the same time, he was on public display and subjected to torment by the Philistines. He cried unto God for strength and asked to die with the Philistines. God restored his strength to him, and he killed more Philistines that day than ever ( Judges 16:23-31 ).
- Jonah Restored as a Prophet to Nineveh
Jonah was a prophet sent by God to the people of Nineveh ( Jonah 1:1 ). Jonah was not willing to go to Nineveh because he felt they deserved death, but while he was going on the way, God arrested him in the belly of the fish for three days ( Jonah 1:15 – 17 ). Jonah repented and asked God for mercy; then he went to Nineveh to declare the lord’s word unto them. The people of Nineveh repented, and they were reconciled unto God. God restored Jonah’s salvation and state as a prophet ( Jonah 3 ).
- David Regains the Throne from Absalom
David was a man after God’s heart; he loved God but wasn’t without fault. David had many restoration experiences and highlights in his life. When Absalom, David’s son, revolted against him, David was forced to flee with some of his family members ( 2 Samuel 15 ). Absalom was very eager to kill his father so that he could cement his reign as the king. He went as far as sleeping with some of his father’s wives to show he was ready for war ( 2 Samuel 16:23 ).
Joab killed Absalom against David’s wish, and David regained his throne as the king of Israel (2 Samuel 18:32-33).
- Peter Receives forgiveness
Peter was an apostle chosen to lead the disciples by Jesus. He was one of the three disciples closest to Jesus, but he denied Jesus three times ( Mark 14:66-67 ). He was afraid to identify with Christ because he feared for his life and probably his family. He cried unto God for forgiveness ( Matthew 26:75 ) after he realized his mistake, and God forgave him.
When Jesus was resurrected, he appeared to his disciples while they were fishing, and he told Peter to take responsibility for leading and feeding his flock. God restored Peter’s salvation and drew him closer to him (John 21:15-18 ).
- Saul renamed Paul
Saul, who later became Apostle Paul, was zealous for God. He wanted to make sure that the will of God prevailed everywhere he was, but he wasn’t threading on the right path ( Acts 9:1-2 ). He was busy killing the disciples of Jesus to protect the religiosity of the Jews, but one day he encountered God (Acts 9:3-9 ), and God gave him a clear direction for his zeal. Paul was restored to become the apostle sent to the Gentiles. He suffered for Christ, and his zeal was channelled the right way.
- Jabez Restored after Praying
Jabez was introduced as a more honourable man than his kin, but he lived in sorrow. He was named Jabez, which means sorrow by his mother because of her sufferings during his birth. Jabez cried out to God for mercy, and God restored him (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
- Man Restored Back to God
The greatest miracle of restoration is the restoration of man. After Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, Man lost his initial glory, fellowship and son ship ( Genesis 3:14-19). Man was cursed and cast away from Eden. God’s love for man was so much that he sent his son to die for the sins of the world.
Jesus came to reconcile man with God, a perfect restoration of our son ship and access to God. The bible recorded that after Jesus died, the veil in the temple tore in two ( Genesis 27:51 ), which shows we all have access to the throne of God. Man has been restored to his former glory, and as long as you believe in God, you have recovered all that you have lost. Halleluiah!
How can I access God’s Restoration?
Although God is willing to restore us, we also have a part to play in our restoration to be complete.
- Brokenness and a contrite heart. Suppose you have lost something or your relationship with God. You must be broken and willing to seek God’s forgiveness to be restored unto God. God can never turn away anyone who truly and genuinely wants to repent of their sins and turn to him.
- Thanksgiving unto God. Thanksgiving can sometimes be a key to opening the door of restoration. I often feel sad and depressed anytime I am going through a difficult phase. Thanking and praising God can be very helpful, and I often praise till I am restored fully.
- Saying heartfelt prayers unto God. Prayers are very important; like Jabez prayed unto God, asking him for restoration and blessings. God granted Jabez prayers, and he became honourable.
- Faith in God. The woman with the issue of blood who was sick and had spent all her money had faith in God. She touched the hem of Jesus’ garment by faith, and her health was restored.
I believe almost all of us have lost something that we want God to restore unto us. The promise of restoration is not just for those who live in the bible times only. God is still in the business of restoring us unto him. We only have to understand that he alone deserves the glory.
Prayer of Restoration
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your grace and your mercy. It is a great privilege to be alive and in your presence. I am truly grateful for all the things you have done for me. Thank you for my past, present and future; you deserve all the glory. Please forgive my sins and restore me to you dear Lord.
Today, like Jabez, I ask that you bless and be merciful unto me, enlarge my territory, and grant me peace. Father, I pray that you will restore all I have lost back to me in multiple folds like Job. May my life experience your newness and freshness like never before.
Thank you, Lord, because you always hear me. I believe you have answered my prayers.
Amen
