A friend recently completed an extensive remodel on her house. As I followed her journey on Facebook, I oohed and ahhed over the pictures of her all-new bathroom. I imagined what it would be like to have that in my house!

I also saw pictures of their work-in-progress, which helped me realize how much time, effort and commitment went into crafting such a beautifully restored project. Not to mention their talent for building and design.

What exactly is restoration?

Restoration can be defined as the act of returning something to its former condition. Making something new again. Restoring can also make things better than their current state. The Bible says a lot about this. Our Heavenly Father’s restoring power is one of the greatest promises from Scripture.

God loves us and wants us to have a relationship with him, but the entrance of sin into the world separated us from him. Yet God graciously provides a way for our relationship with him to be restored through his son, Jesus Christ.

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” Romans 5:10 NLT

As we look at what the Bible says about restoration, let’s open our hearts to receive this promise on a deeper level than ever before. My prayer is that as we study Scripture, we will see God restore what’s been lost in our own hearts, lives, and families.

Here are 4 foundational truths about restoration from the Bible.

Restoration can happen in our physical bodies.

“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…” Jeremiah 30:17 ESV

I can go for a walk every day, make trips to the gym, and cook healthy meals at home. All of these are good things that bring honor to the One who created my body. All of these help me regain my strength I may have lost during illness or injury. But nothing can fully restore us like God can.

The Hebrew word for restore in the above verse can be defined as to go up or ascend.

Chapter 30 shares God’s word for his people through the prophet Jeremiah. God intended to bring his people back from exile and restore their land. But God also promised to restore their health.

Dealing with ongoing health issues is hard. Chronic pain can cause our hope to fade and affect how we live. Reading this verse will help us hold on to hope when the pains of our wounds linger. Let’s cast our eyes heavenward as we seek God’s restoration.

Claim this promise with me today: God is able to heal me and restore my health.

Restoration can happen in our spirits.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12 ESV

Life’s struggles can suck the joy right out of even the most positive person. Pile one struggle on top of another, and we can easily become trapped under the weight of despair.

God’s promise for restoration doesn’t only apply to our physical bodies, but our spirits as well.

The Hebrew word for RESTORE in Psalm 51:12 can be defined as to return or turn back.

Sometimes I lose my way. I get distracted, chasing the wrong things, and before you know it I’m questioning where God is and why I feel so far from him.

When we seek God again, he will turn our hearts toward him. My joy and peace returns as I ask his forgiveness and submit to his plan instead of my own.

The Matthew Henry Commentary puts it this way. ““A child of God knows no true nor solid joy but the joy of God’s salvation, joy in God his Savior and in the hope of eternal life.”

Claim this promise with me today: God is able to heal and restore my spirit.

Restoration can happen in our circumstances or surroundings.

“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 ESV

When we feel like we’ve lost it all, God promises to return even more than what was stolen from us. Job kept a humble attitude before God, knowing his ways are far beyond our own. Even when he’d lost everything. His health, his fortune, his family. Job honored God.

Yes, our faithful God promises to restore. But that doesn’t mean things will look exactly the way they were before loss. The pain of loss cuts deep and leaves a void only God can fill. But if we keep our focus on Jesus as we pray for restoration, God will renew our hearts and lives in ways beyond what we can imagine.

Claim this promise with me: God is able and willing to restore what was lost.

Restoration will always be visible on the outside, but it begins on the inside.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Have you ever seen one of those home improvement shows where they intend to update the home in six weeks, but as they break down walls— surprise! Faulty wiring, old plumbing, or mold hide behind the exterior.

They realize the project is going to take much longer than expected. More cleaning, more work, more time and effort.

In the same way, God wants to see deep change in us, beginning with not-so-pretty things that may not be visible to others. When we pray for restoration, we can begin with a short prayer asking God to reveal any unclean thing within us. (Psalm 139:23-24 is a great place to start!)

Restoration will often take longer than expected, and we may not see immediate results. But we can know without a doubt, God is working on our behalf. Always.

“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.” Isaiah 61:7

If you’re struggling with discouragement in suffering, read these 3 hopeful truths for times when our affliction lingers.

The Beauty of Restoration in the Bible

When I gaze at the before and after pictures of my friend’s home improvement project, I have a new appreciation for the change that takes place. I believe others will see a change in our hearts as well, when we invite God into our lives and trust his restoration power at work.

Let’s hold on to this prayer together today: Praise God for making me a new creation through restoration!

If you’d like a printable version of the promises and verses in this post, I’ve created something for you, to help you as you pray for restoration. It’s called the One-Sentence Restoration Promises from God prayer cards.

When you subscribe, I’ll send you access to that download along with all the other resources I have available.

Woman's hands holding purple flowers. Text reads, What the Bible says about restoration.

This week’s devotion comes from our special guest, author and Hope Coach, Carmen Horne. I know you will be inspired by her words! Let’s learn from Carmen how to release our hurt to the Master Restorer.

Do you enjoy watching home renovation shows on TV? I do. I start one, and there is no stopping until I have watched about three of them. It is exciting to witness the rebirth of something broken and unloved.

Often, I think, just tear it down. They are hopeless. Not worthy. Unusable.

Simon felt that way about his uninvited guest. She lived among the crumbled walls of failed relationships. The rubble of her sins, piled high for all to view. Simon knew her reputation and questioned Jesus’ discernment in allowing her to touch Him. When Simon saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” (Luke 7: 39b NLT)

This brave woman ignored the stares and murmurs of the other attendees. She must have been nervous and so ashamed. The gift she offered Jesus, within her alabaster box, was her most valuable asset. Would He accept it? He will know how I earned this expensive perfume.

What the woman did not comprehend was that her most valuable asset was not the perfume. Her most valuable offering was the repentance that the contents of her alabaster box represented. She poured her pain and brokenness at Jesus’ feet.

In my book, Out of Words, we discuss our hurt boxes. Within each of our hearts, there are places we leave untouched — hidden. Maybe those places seem too dark, or they are too painful. The cost of our revelation seems too high. It was costly for our lady, also. She was willing to make a spectacle of herself to receive what Jesus had to offer — healing and restoration.

The pain our lady felt ran down her cheeks. Her tears were her prayers of repentance. Jesus gathered the pieces of her broken heart and spoke the kindest words she had heard from anyone in a long time — life-changing words, “Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven...Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” (7: 48,50)

Our hurt boxes are transparent to God. He gently exposes the places He wants to restore. He is El Roi — the God Who Sees us. He waits patiently, tenderly, inviting us to open our hearts and pour out our hurts at His feet. He understands the cost of releasing our hurts to Him. He paid a high price for our healing at Calvary.

Jesus doesn’t see us a fixer-upper or project; He sees what we cannot — women, whole and holy. Our prayer of release can be as simple as “Reveal and heal, Lord.”

Even when our pain and hurt is great, God’s mercy and grace are greater. He is the Master Restorer.

A Prayer for You:

Guide us, Lord, as we open our hurt boxes and reveal painful times. Help us to release our brokenness to You. Restore us, Lord! In the mighty name of Jesus! Amen.

Carmen Horne is a Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach, writer, speaker, and humorist who uses her gifts to encourage women. She is passionate about supporting women through life’s challenges as they learn to draw on God’s power and a dynamic relationship with Jesus to change their perspective on the unexpected.

Carmen hosts the Your Hope Coach podcast. She is also the author of Out of Words book and Grace Maps. You can learn more about her books here.

At the ripe old age of 16, the Bayou State native married her high-school sweetheart. They recently celebrated their 42nd anniversary and have one beautiful daughter. Carmen is a dark chocolate nibbler and beach sitter. But her favorite activities are those she participates in as a wife and mom.