- God’s Promise of Provision and Restoration
- The Bible highlights God’s commitment to provide for us in every season of life. Although the winter does come and old things do pass away, the Lord promises that spring will also come and He will renew and heal various aspects of our lives through His divine love, compassion, and mercy.
- Restoration can apply to physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions.
- God gives us back more than we lost.
- When we trust in God’s power and seek His forgiveness and guidance, we can experience hope and new beginnings
- The desire of God’s heart is for all things to be made new. When He created the Heavens and the earth and all those within it He said that His creation was good.
Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
God plans to redeem all that was lost in the fall, those things that have become corrupt on the earth and in the lives of individuals. This is why Jesus came to redeem mankind. Through Jesus Christ, we are rescued from the power of sin and brought into God’s kingdom.
Colossians 1:13-14 beautifully captures the essence of redemption:
“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Christ’s blood paid the price for our redemption, reconciling us to God and granting forgiveness.
Ephesians 1:7 "In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."
One day Jesus will return to the earth again to redeem the earth and all of His people and all will be put back in order. Remember this when you feel down and out and when things are not going right in your life; God is your champion and his desire is to see you fully restored.
But don’t take my word for it, read these verses from the Bible to see God’s heart for His people and His plans for the earth
Revelation 21:1-5 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Acts 3:21 ESV Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
God’s Provision in Every Season
God promises to provide in every season
1. He is always faithful, He keeps His word and His word never changes.
Psalm 119:89-90 ESV Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
2. He promises to ALWAYS provide for us.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Isaiah 58:11 ESV And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
The Essence of Changing Seasons
The changing seasons remind us of God’s redemptive work. Just as winter yields to spring, our lives are marked by cycles of renewal, growth, and transformation.
In Genesis 8:22 it says “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Trust in His plan and His timing and find solace in His eternal perspective. Remember, God’s plans extend beyond our present circumstances. He sees the bigger picture.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NIV paints a beautiful picture of the essence of seasons: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.” Just as the seasons change, so do the seasons of our lives. These changes require adaptability and resilience.
Recognize that each season has its unique purpose. God uses these transitions to teach us about life, growth, and renewal. Just as spring awakens nature from its winter slumber, difficult seasons in our lives prepare us for new beginnings and opportunities.
Embracing Change & Transformation2
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Seasons of renewal involve transformation. Just as spring brings forth new life, God renews us spiritually. Embrace change and allow God to transform you. Let go of old patterns, habits, and mindsets.
1. Different Seasons Help Develop Our Character
A. Patience and Trust
Psalm 27:14 NIV encourages us: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
The changing of seasons teaches us patience and trust in God’s divine plan. Just as we eagerly anticipate warmer weather after a long winter, we must learn to patiently wait for God’s timing in our lives. During waiting seasons, we grow in faith and character, much like trees strengthen their roots during winter.
We are told that the Lord will give us enough to provide for our daily needs
Matthew 6:34 ESV “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Believing this takes trusting Him
B. Gratitude
C. Persistence and Perseverance
As autumn arrives, we experience the harvest season when we reap the fruits of our labor.
Galatians 6:9 NIV reminds us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Our efforts and acts of kindness are not in vain; they yield a bountiful harvest in due time.
D. Self-Control
Going through different seasons helps us to gain self-control.
Seasons of Rest
Sometimes we go through seasons where there seems to be nothing happening in our lives, nothing progressing. In these seasons you may even feel stuck. This can be for different reasons, but oftentimes this can indicate that we are in a season of rest.
The Lord says in Matthew 11:28 ESV "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The Lord uses seasons of rest for restoration, for new beginnings, to work in us and on things around us, to give us time for reflection, and as a time to get our eyes off of our labors and on Him. He loves spending time with us! The Lord knows (of course He knows- He created us!) that we need these seasons of rest.
- In Leviticus 25, God established the Year of Sabbath Rest and the Year of Jubilee for the land and for the people—a time for the Israelites to let the land lie fallow and a time for them to rest from their labors. During this year, they were not to plant crops or prune vineyards. It allowed the fields to regain nutrients and moisture. Sabbath and Jubilee were about rest for the land, restoration for the people, forgiveness of debt, recommitment to justice, and freedom for the slave.
- The Lord has created us to enter into seasons of rest. Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret”
We can see this from the beginning when the Lord Himself rested on the 7th day from His work. He even calls rest Holy!
Genesis 2:1-3 ESV Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Seasons of Harvest/Restoration/Redemption
The Lord says to His people,
Joel 2:25-26 ESV “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."
God Restores Every Aspect of Our Lives
God wants us to be whole and complete in every way, restoring us to physical, spiritual, and emotional health. As believers, we are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Relying on Him brings rest. When we rest in Him then our minds stay set on Him. When our minds stay fixed on Him we move with Him. And from this place we experience restoration. Here are some ways that God promises to restore us:- He restores our health
Jeremiah 30:17 ESV
"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!"
2. He restores our soul
Psalm 23:3 ESV He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
3. He restores our hope, our joy and our peace
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
4. He restores our strength
Isaiah 40:31 ESV But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
5. He restores blessings and honor
Isaiah 61:7 ESV Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.- He restores our relationships
God’s Grace and Mercy
The Bible features stories of restoration, showing that God’s grace and mercy are always available. Despite our mistakes and shortcomings, God extends forgiveness and offers restoration to those who seek it.
Psalm 86:15 says, "But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."
Here are some examples of how God extended grace and mercy over and over again to various people throughout scripture. All of these individuals faced great challenges or experienced setbacks but were all ultimately restored.
- The Prodigal Son- Even though He completely denounced his father and traded his position in his father’s house for momentary gain, when he came to his right mind and went back to his father he was forgiven and restored. This is how God loves us. When we stray, he welcomes us back home with open arms ready to celebrate us and restore our position in his household.
2. David- Although David was far from perfect and fell short of living a righteous life before the Lord, he knew the Lord. He knew that the Lord’s heart towards him was good, and he had faith in God always taking care of him. He knew the Lord restores those who have fallen, those who are weak. Whenever he fell into disobedience, he was quick to repent. He loved the Lord and He knew the Lord loved him. Psalm 23 shows David's heart for the Lord and reveals his intimate acquaintance with the Lord and David's knowledge of His character. Developing history with God, spending time with Him leads to revelation on His heart, His thoughts and His ways.
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
In David's weakest moments and biggest blunders God was always there to first correct, but then to restore. When David failed to discipline his sons, it resulted in a division in family and in his kingdom. But the Lord's discipline eventually ended, and He restored the kingdom with David once again sitting on the throne.
David even committed adultery then had a man killed so that he could marry his wife. David then married the woman, Bathsheba, himself and because of his treachery the Lord allowed their first child to die. But even after this, after David repented, the Lord forgave him and gave them another child who is still known today for his wisdom and even grafted David into the bloodline of Jesus Christ, God's own son! Talk about restoration!
3. Mary Magdalene-God restores her, delivering her of 7 unclean spirits. No matter what condition the Lord finds us in, He is able to restore us. He also made her life a testimony to how he saw women by sending her, a woman, to the apostles to testify about Jesus Christ having been raised from the dead. This screamed that God did not regard women as less than men but counterparts. Up until this time a woman’s testimony was not accepted as a witness.
4. Job- Job was a righteous man who lost everything. In the biblical text we see Job going through all kinds of inner turmoil as he loves more and more, his health, his family, his wealth. He forgoes calamity after calamity, and he even loses his reputation as his friends insist that he must have done something wrong. As Job sinks further and further into despair thinking that because of his own righteousness he did not deserve what was happening, he hears from the Lord. Job's response to the Lord's displeasure at his interactions with his three friends is what the Lord would want from all of us in this situation. He repented.
Job 42:5-6 ESV "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
and this repentance opened the door for his restoration and the blessings that followed. The story ends with Job receiving twice as much as he had before in every area of his life.
5. Peter- Peter was very zealous for the Lord and thought a lot about his own commitment to Him. But, when it came down to it, he valued his own life more than his commitment to Christ. Broken and ashamed, Peter leaves the ministry and goes back to fishing, having counted himself out of the calling of God because of his own failures and denial of Jesus. But God. And in his infinite mercy he reminds Peter of (restores) his identity and what he was called to do, letting Peter know that despite how unworthy he had proven himself to be, that he was still wanted and still loved because it was never about him to begin with. It was about Jesus.
As you see from the examples above, when we know The Lord and know His character we will also know that he is ALWAYS good and that His goodness is not dependent on us but it's His nature to be good. When we acknowledge God’s sovereignty and understand that His holiness is without spot or blemish, we can see that His goodness and love for us is far above our ability to conceive. When we know these things, it brings us into humility and into a state of complete awe of the majesty of our creator who has welcomed US, created from the dust of the earth, into His presence and made us part of His family, kings and priests and joint heirs with Christ. Hallelujah! Knowing this how can we not be broken over our sin? The good news is, when we seek His forgiveness and guidance, we can experience hope and new beginnings, ultimately being transformed into His very image and partnering with Him to see the fulfillment of His heart's desire; that His glory would fill the earth and that we would flow with Him and in Him and Him in us in love forever.
How To Apply This Truth & Walk It Out
1.Meditate on the Word
God’s Word says that if we meditate on it intentionally and frequently that we will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
2. Stay connected to the Lord in prayer
Pray about everything.
The Bible says in Philippians 6-7 NKJV “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
Remember, who He is, that He is your provider, and He cares about your wellbeing. Resting in the Lord isn’t passive; it’s an active choice to trust, rely, and surrender. Take time to rest and remind yourself that only God is God, giving our burdens and anxieties to Him. Seek His presence and find rest in His love.
3. Put the Lord First
The Lord says that if we put Him first He will supply every need
Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Psalm 34:10 ESV The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
4. Repentance.
Jeremiah 15:19 NIV states, "Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.”
In Acts 3:19 NIV the apostle Peter says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
5. Prioritize time with God
Eliminate one thing from your busy schedule and use that time to relax or go for a walk. Prioritize time with God and loved ones. Let go of the need to always be productive.
6. Be Grateful and Thank Him Often.
7. Be Humble
Humility opens the door to God’s rest and provision. Admit your need for Him and surrender control. Standing with Christ means stepping aside and allowing Him to have His way in our hearts and minds. We must acknowledge our weakness and invite Him to take over.
In 1 Peter 5:5-6 it says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
8. Have Faith
1 John 5:4 ESV For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Matthew 21:22 - And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Mark 11:22-24 - And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
9. Ask God to show you what season you are in so that you are prepared to move with him in this season and are ready for the seasons to come. You must know if it is time to plant, time to harvest, or time to rest. Signs around you can also help you discern the season you're in/ the season you’re entering into.
Mark 13:28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
10. Know that the Lord is Good
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope
11. Honor the Lord
Proverbs 3:9,10 NIV Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
12. Trust God’s Timing
Know That God Has Set a Time For Everything
Galatians 4:4-5 NIV But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
A. He promises that our suffering has an end
1 Peter 5:10 ESV And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Psalm 30:5 ESV For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
B. Obedience aligns you with God’s perfect timing and brings blessing.
Luke 11:26 NIV He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Here is the story of the Shulamite from 2 Kings. This story actually happens in two parts so there are two different excerpts from scripture, one from 2 Kings 4 and the other from 2 Kings 8. As you read this story, notice how the Shulamite was blessed and restored by walking out the above listed concepts of biblical truth. I have inserted the corresponding biblical principles being exercised into the story where relevant and the scriptures that show the promised and fulfilled result of exercising those biblical principles. These are in bold and parenthesis) ENJOY!
2 Kings 4:8-37 The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life
One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.
She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.
Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” (Honor the Lord)
One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there.
He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him.
Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ” She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”
“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway.
“About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”
But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
(Proverbs 3:9,10 NIV Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.)
The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers.
He said to his father, “My head! My head!” His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.
She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.
She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.” (Be Humble, Seek the Lord)
“Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.” “That’s all right,” she said. (Know that the Lord is Good)
She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.”
So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite!
Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’ ” “Everything is all right,” she said.
(Have Faith)
When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”
“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”
Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”
But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.
Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”
When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch.
He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD.
Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm.
Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.”
(Psalm 34:10 ESV The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.)
(Jeremiah 29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope)
(1 John 5:4 ESV For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.)
She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. (Gratitude)
2 Kings 8:1-6 The Shunammite’s Land Restored
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the LORD has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.”
The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.(Obedience, Trust God’s Timing)
At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land.
The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.”
Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land. Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.”
The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.”
(Luke 11:26 NIV He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”)