First Baptist Church, Somerville, NJ

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Created: 03 September 2021

“THE GOD WHO RESTORES”

Seasons of chaos and storms are challenging in life. We have seen the wildfires across California, the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, the destruction of human life and property across the United States from hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. Also, we watch people of Afghanistan fleeing and risking their lives from the grips of strict observance to Islamic Sharia law imposed by the Taliban. These seasons of upheaval and turbulence can make us feel as if all is lost and abandoned. The wreckage of what is left from the storm can feel daunting and beyond our human understanding. It is in these moments that we see God of restoration. He is the God making all things new in His time and creation. According to Webster dictionary restore literally means to “bring back, return, and recover, put back in order, and to adjust back together”.

 The Psalmist declares: “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth, you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again." Psalm 71:20-21

Some commentators believe this is a psalm of David and is his prayer and trust in God. It may refer to David later years under the crisis of Absalom’s rebellion; for that was the great trouble of his later days. It might be an occasion or some trouble that happened to him at another period of his life. David penned these words for the general use of God's people in their afflictions, especially those in their declining years. The Psalmist understood that all things was in God’s hands and that if he had experienced great severe troubles that too were in God’s control. That same God could also revive him, bringing him up again from the depths of despair, hurt and pain. David says with assurance that God shall increase his greatness, and comfort him on every side: More than a prayer, this was a confident proclamation. Though David was older in years, he still expected that God would increase his greatness and continue his comfort. The idea is that as the years continued, the psalmist would see more and more great things God does that overshadows the darkness in his life.

When God restores, He does not take you back to the way you were before you experienced being broken. As we travel through this broken, beautiful world, we will be hurt. It’s a simple fact of living in a land of imperfect people and systems. Jesus had the scars to show that He went through hurt and brokenness for the world. When facing the many storms of life, we know he will be with us, and he will use what we encounter to make us better – more like him. There is nothing that can build character, patience, and compassion as much as confronting our own suffering and seeing God brings us through on the other side. God takes the pain, hurt, and brokenness that may have been caused by ourselves and others, and puts our life back in order, adjusts what is wrong, and brings us to a place of newness, amazing recovery, and wholeness. Let the restoration of God begin in your life.  

Yours in Christ,

 Pastor Loreno R. Flemmings