God Restores The Lost Years
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~Matthew 6:19-21
People often asked how I transitioned into a Christian author and what my journey has been like. I will share some of the tidbits that led me here….
My sister sent this to me after I shared in a devotional how I felt like so many years of my past have been lost—lost in the wrong relationships, with the wrong people, pursuing the wrong things, and the wrong... everything. This is exactly what she shared with me, and I want to share it with you.
"I heard what you shared and didn't want to waste a second in sharing this truth I learned years ago that still brings me comfort, peace, and joy: God restores. God restores the years lost. I found this excerpt:
'Beloved, the same is true for every believer today. God only needs to speak the word, and the lost years can be restored to you.
Joel 2:25 (ESV) says:
"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."
This is how God restores our wasted years: He brings forth supernatural joy, revelation, peace, and victory far beyond our human abilities. He can accomplish more in us, for us, and through us now than we ever thought possible.
We can stand upright today as if we had never sinned, as if we had lost no time, as if we were right where we would have been had the devourer never come. God puts us right back on His divine schedule. His eternal purpose and plan are exactly where He intended them to be—nothing is lost.
The Lord God desires to pour out all the blessings and joys in Him that we missed earlier. Yet, He doesn’t just make it all up with outpourings alone—these outpourings become overflowing.
"And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 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." ~Joel 2:24-25
These words have brought me immense comfort, and I hope they do the same for you.
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GOD RESTORES: He is in the Restoration Business, not the Destruction Business.
Truly, it has been an incredible journey. When I think back on my 30-40-year-old self, I don't long for the days of flashy automobiles, mansions, and idyllic holidays. Helping others and finding happiness in the little things—like viewing the world through a child's eyes—seem more important to me these days. For the moment, I don't think any extravagant vacation can substitute that sensation.
The love and wisdom I've been blessed with I would like to share with you.
Learning that the most important thing is not material possessions but the love and assistance you can offer others has been an incredible trip. That is the true gem.
I appreciate you reading and following…
Stay child-like, loved and well!
What is Your Relationship With God? (My next blog article)