So often we pray for something to be restored, be it our own condition, a marriage, or another relationship. We cry out, “Lord, please bring restoration in this!” Not only do we cry out for that restoration, we can get stuck in our thoughts dwelling on a former condition, what something used to look like.

“I was so successful and joyful when I was…”

“My marriage was so good when we were….”

“I wish things were just like they were when…”

etc., etc.

Here’s what God has spoken to me recently for anyone who is longing for restoration. Stop looking to a place in the past and longing for things to be as they were. Yes, absolutely pray and long for things to be better, but don’t get stuck on what you think better is supposed to look like. The goodness God has in store for you may look completely different than what the goodness looked like in the past. Never forget that we have a God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Instead of looking back to a former place, believe God for the future! He says in His Word, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” If we are only looking to some point in the past, we are limiting the potential of what God has for us in the future.

Don’t you know God is in the business of making things new?! He is in the business of not simply restoring something, but bringing rejuvenation to something. I like the word rejuvenation so much more than restoration because it so much better describes what God is going to do if you let Him!

Restoration – an act of restoring or the condition of being restored: such as bringing back to a former position or condition

Rejuvenation –  to make young or youthful again : give new vigor to / to restore to an original or new state

Let me read the scripture I shared again, ” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Lord, I pray for anyone this speaks to. God, in whatever area they need you to work in, I pray you would bring new life and fresh joy beyond what they could ask, think or imagine. Thank You God, that You have plans to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future. Thank You God, that You are working all things for good. We trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

All scriptures from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 or New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson or The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Word definitions are from https://www.merriam-webster.com, © 2023 Merriam-Webster.