A faint glint of something blue caught my eye as I backed out of my driveway. Someone had put something in my mailbox and left it cracked open just a smidgen. My curiosity was piqued. Junk mail certainly does not sparkle.
Joy erupted in my heart when I discovered what the mystery glimmer was. Someone had put an earring I had lost inside my mailbox. And not just any earring. It was one of my favorites- delicate, dangly blue ones handmade by a dear friend. I had been heartbroken the day I lost one of them.
I smiled and thanked the Lord for returning it to me, for caring about even the smallest of details in my life. I cannot begin to recount all of the times He has returned lost things to me or helped me find items I have misplaced. Earrings. Bracelets. Important documents.
My thoughts soon drifted off to think of far weightier things the Lord has restored to me. I walked away from the Lord when I was in the 7th grade. When I finally surrendered my life back over to Him in my twenties, I was a broken mess. I had lost my hope, my peace, my joy, my self-worth, my dignity.
Over the past 14 years, He has lovingly restored to me those very things. He has given me hope. He has filled my heart with peace and my life with joy. He continues to help me see my worth in Him. And He has given me back my dignity.
Oh, how tender that last one is to me -the returning of dignity lost. For so many years, I felt such shame for how I had not waited until marriage to give myself away. For how sexual sin was not just a one time thing, but a pattern I fell into during my youth. How precious Isaiah 61:10 has become to this one who uncovered herself, quite literally, all in the name of desiring to be loved.
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the
garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe
Of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself
With ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself
With her jewels.”
(Isaiah 61:10 NKJV)
He has clothed me. He has covered me. He does not call me what the enemy labeled me so long ago…a harlot. He has called me His bride, and He has covered me with a robe of righteousness. He has given me back my dignity. That and so much more.
How about you? What has He returned to you? I would love to hear about it today, whether it is something as simple as a lost earring or something like lost hope restored. Oh, and a quick side-note…while I cannot recommend checking your mailbox daily for lost things to be returned, I highly recommend checking your Bible. There’s always something to be found there!
What a beautiful post. It’s those little things…reminders of His love…His gentle care and me….He’s given me peace…joy…things I never had before….and my family….I fought alone so long….not anymore….all b/c of Him.
He is so, so good, isn’t He? 🙂 I love Him so.
Oh I love this.
My rebellion I didn’t even see as rebellion. I THOUGHT I was finally doing it right. My husband and I disagreed on finances and budgeting so I decided to take it over and show him. I was sure God would bless us now that we were obeying and my husband would see the light. But I had a haughty heart. It was about SHOWING my husband I was right, not obeying God and God could not bless that.
For the next few months everything in our house broke while I was over the finances. The microwave, the stove, the dishwasher and the refrigerator. My husband went from lots of overtime to NONE. We were living on his base pay for the first time ever. And I was expecting our second child and was a stay-at-home-mom.
I showed him all the money were were having to pull from savings to pay the bills and we decided we had to sell our house. Then we moved into an apartment. I handed the finaces back to my husband upon God’s leading. (There is nothing wrong with the wife handeling the finances. There is something wrong with snatching them from her husband’s hand)
It was a long depressing time in our marriage. Then one day in MOPS while a speaker was talking I heard the Lord speak to my heart ,”I will restore to you the years the locust have eaten.” And I could feel the darkness lift.
We finally got a little house on a sweet street next to godly neighbors that have children the same age as ours. And God moved us to the church down the street to serve in the middle of its growth. And He keeps telling me of things ahead.
I love His mercy and His grace. 🙂 So glad you shared your testimony of His faithfulness, friend. 🙂
This was a much needed read…. Thank you..
So very glad you stopped by! 🙂
I really enjoyed this post. God is the God of restoration. He promises to restore everything that we’ve lost and sometimes it comes back even better. Although we had to give up a home we lived in for 16 years (to short sale, due to unemployment, etc.), God has been faithful. He has restored our peace and hope for our future.
I love reading of His faithfulness in the lives of others. It stirs my heart. 🙂
Hey,this has definitely encouraged me. Unlike u guys who seem to have gone past the phase, my life is choked with sin. Sometimes I don’t know where to start from. I gave my life to Christ once before,but I have backslid and I don’t know how to pick up again. I pray God leads to me back to my starting point! Oh! How I miss experiencing the mighty presence of the almighty with a clean heart. Pls, you can stop by my blog @www.ngupers.blogspot.com to read my story.
I am so glad you commented! I wish I could sit down with you over a cup of coffee and that we could talk…about wandering far from God (which I, too, did) and about how He welcomes us back WITHOUT hesitation. If I could encourage you in any way, it would be simply to cry out to Him. He longs for you even more than you long for Him.
The verse that popped into my mind when I read your comment was 2 Chronicles 7:14. Pray. Seek His face. Turn towards Him. He LOVES you so.
I am about to take my girls to piano, but I will stop by your blog later. 🙂
Blessings,
K
Thanks so much for this reminder message of what has God returned to me. Oh so much and I am so guilty for not acknowledging it from time to time. I get so caught up in the ordinary things of life that I am so easily led to forget what God has so graciously done and is still doing.
He gave me back my virginity; a wonderful, loving, godly husband, perfect for me, two precious daughters who are such a joy to raise-well I will admit it is challenging sometimes! A church family who is supportive, caring and non-jugemental. And so much more. He has restored my once shattered soul, given me peace and hope. He has given me a purpose.
I am loving this new life God has given to me. He is good and faithful, loving and true. I just want everyone I know to truly experience how great He is.
Living to Serve and Love Him in all that I say and do!
I love reading about what He has done in your life, Kelley. 🙂 My life, too, is overflowing with all that He has done and continues to do. And yet, I can also slip into not acknowledging it. It is so good to stop and remember what He has done for me AND to read about what He has done for others.
Miss you guys!